Afrĭca, ae, f. [the Romans received this name from the Carthaginians as designating their country, and in this sense only the Gr. ἡ Ἀφρική occurs].
I In a restricted sense, designated by the Greeks ἡ Λιβύη, Libya , the territory of Carthage : Nilus Africam ab Aethiopiā dispescens, Plin. 5, 9, 10, § 53; 5, 4, 3, 23: regio, quae sequitur a promontorio Metagonio ad aras Philaenorum, proprie nomen Africae usurpat, Mel. 1, 7; cf. Cic. Imp. Pomp. 12, and id. Lig. 7.—
II In an extended sense, the whole of that quarter of the globe south of the Mediterranean Sea , Mel. 1, 4.—By meton. for its inhabitants : Africa, quae procul a mari incultius agebat, Sall. J. 89, 7 (cf. id. ib. 19, 5: alios incultius vagos agitare).—Hence,
1 Afrĭcānus , a, um, adj., pertaining to Africa , African : bellum Africanum, the war of Caesar with the partisans of Pompey in Africa , Cic. Deiot. 9, 25: rumores, of the African war , id. ib.: causa, id. Fam. 6, 13: possessiones, in Africa , Nep. Att. 12: gallina, a guinea-hen , Varr. R. R. 3, 9; cf. Plin. 10, 26, 38, § 74.—Subst.: Afrĭcānae , ārum, sc. ferae, panthers , Liv. 44, 18; so Plin. 8, 17, 24, § 64; Plin. Ep. 6, 34; Suet. Cat. 18; id. Claud. 21 al.—Esp., Afrĭcā-nus , surname of the two most distinguished Scipios.
A Of P. Cornelius Scipio major, who defeated Hannibal at Zama (201 B. C.). —
B Of his grandson by adoption, P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus minor, who conducted the third Punic war, destroyed Carthage (146 B.C.), and subjected the whole Carthaginian territory to the Romans.—
2 Afrĭcus , a, um, adj., African (mostly poet. for the prose Africanus): terra, Enn. ap. Cic. de Or. 3, 42, 167; so Liv. 29, 23 fin. : bella, Sil. 17, 11: Vicus, a place in Rome , on the Esquiline Hill , where the Carthaginian hostages were held in custody , Varr. R. R. 5, 32, 44.—But esp. freq., Afrĭcus ventus , or subst.: Afrĭcus , i, m., the south-west wind , Gr. λίψ, blowing between Auster and Favonius (λιβόνοτος and ζέφυρος), opp. Vulturnus (καικίας), now called, among the Italians, Affrico or gherbino; cf. Plin. 2, 47, 46, § 119, and Sen. Q. N. 5, 16: creberque procellis Africus, Verg. A. 1, 86: praeceps, Hor. C. 1, 3, 12: luctans, id. ib. 1, 1, 15: pestilens, id. ib. 3, 23, 5: protervus, id. Epod. 16, 22.— Adj. : procellae, the waves or storms caused by the Africus, Hor. C. 3, 29, 57.—In Propert., Africus, as the god of this wind , is called pater, 5, 3, 48, but Müll. here reads Aetheris.