Lewis & Short

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sĕcūris, is (acc. securim, Plaut. Aul. 1, 2, 17; id. Men. 5, 2, 105; Cic. Mur. 24, 48; id. Planc. 29, 70; Verg. A. 2, 224; 11, 656; 696; Ov. M. 8, 397; Liv. 1, 40, 7; 3, 36, 4; Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 201; cf. Gell. 13, 21, 6: securem, Liv. 3, 36, 4; 8, 7, 20; 9, 16, 17; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 47, § 123; Varr. ap. Non. p. 79; Val. Max. 1, 3, ext. 3; 3, 2, ext. 1; Tert. adv. Marc. 1, 29; Lact. Mort. Pers. 31, 2; Amm. 30, 8, 5; cf. Prisc. 758; abl. securi, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 25; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 7; 2, 1, 5, § 12; 2, 4, 64, § 144; 2, 5, 50, § 133; Verg. A. 6, 824; 7, 510; Cat. 17, 19; Ov. H. 16, 105; Liv. 2, 5, 8 et saep.: secure, App. M. 8, p. 216, 1; Tert. Pud. 16), f. [seco], an axe or hatchet with a broad edge (cf. bipennis).

  1. I. In gen., as a domestic utensil, Cato, R. R. 10, 3; Plaut. Aul. 1, 2, 17; id. Bacch. 5, 1, 31: rustica, Cat. 19, 3 al.
    For felling trees, Cat. 17, 19; Verg. A. 6, 180; Ov. F. 4, 649; id. M. 9, 374; Hor. S. 1, 7, 27; Plin. 16, 39, 74, § 188.
    For hewing stones in the quarries, Stat. S. 2, 2, 87.
    For fighting, a battle-axe, Verg. A. 11, 656; 11, 696; 12, 306; 7, 184; 7, 627; Hor. C. 4, 4, 20 al.: anceps, a two-edged axe, Ov. M. 8, 397 (just before, bipennifer).
    For slaying animals for sacrifice, Hor. C. 3, 23, 12; Verg. A. 2, 224; Ov. Tr. 4, 2, 5; id. M. 12, 249.
    As the cutting edge of a vine-dresser’s bill, Col. 4, 25, 4 et saep.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. Lit., an executioner’s axe, for beheading criminals (borne by the lictors in the fasces; v. fascis): missi lictores ad sumendum supplicium nudatos virgis caedunt securique feriunt, i. e. behead them, Liv. 2. 5; so, securi ferire, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 30, § 75; Hirt. B. G. 8, 38 fin.: percutere, Cic. Pis. 34, 84; Sen. Ira, 2, 5, 5; Flor. 1, 9, 5: strictae in principum colla secures, id. 2, 5, 4: necare, Liv. 10, 9: securibus cervices subicere, Cic. Pis. 34, 83 (cf. infra, B.); id. Verr. 2, 5, 9, § 22: Publicola statim secures de fascibus demi jussit, id. Rep. 2, 31, 55; cf. Lucr. 3, 996; 5, 1234: nec sumit aut ponit secures Arbitrio popularis aurae, Hor. C. 3, 2, 20: saevumque securi Aspice Torquatum (as having caused his own son to be executed), Verg. A. 6, 824.
      Comically, in a double sense, acc. to I.: te, cum securi, caudicali praeficio provinciae, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 25: securis Tenedia, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 11, 2; Front. ad M. Caes. 1, 9 init.; v. Tenedos.
    2. B. Trop.
      1. 1. A blow, death-blow, etc.: graviorem rei publicae infligere securim, to give a death-blow, Cic. Planc. 29, 70; cf.: quam te securim putas injecisse petitioni tuae, cum? etc. (just before: plaga est injecta petitioni tuae), id. Mur. 24, 48.
      2. 2. With reference to the axe in the fasces, authority, dominion, sovereignty.
          1. (α) Usu. in plur.: Gallia securibus subjecta, perpetuā premitur servitute, i. e. to Roman supremacy, * Caes. B. G. 7, 77 fin.; cf.: vacui a securibus et tributis, Tac. A. 12, 34: consulis inperium hic primus saevasque secures Accipiet, Verg. A. 6, 819: Medus Albanas timet secures, i. e. the Roman authority or dominion, Hor. C. S. 54: ostendam multa securibus recidenda, Sen. Ep. 88, 38.
          2. (β) In sing. (poet.): Germania colla Romanae praebens animosa securi, Ov. Tr. 4, 2, 45.