Pē̆trōnĭus, i, m.,
I name of a Roman gens.—So, esp.: Petronius Arbiter, a Roman knight , a favorite of the emperor Nero , perh. the same person with Petronius , the author of a Latin romance which is preserved in a fragmentary state , Tac. A. 16, 17 sq.—In fem. : Pē̆trōnĭa , ae, the first wife of the emperor Vitellius , Tac. H. 2, 64; Suet. Vit. 6.—Hence,
A Pē̆trōnĭus , a, um, adj., of or belonging to a Petronius , Petronian : Petronia amnis est in Tiberim profluens, quam magistratus auspicato transeunt, cum in campo quid agere volunt quod genus auspicii peremne vocatur, Fest. p. 250 Müll.: Petronia lex, respecting slaves: post legem Petroniam et senatusconsulta ad eam legem pertinentia, dominis, potestas ablata est ad bestias depugnandas suo arbitrio servos tradere, Dig. 48, 8, 11, § 3; ib. 40, 1, 24.—
B Pē̆trōnĭānus , a, um, adj., of or belonging to a Petronius , Petronian : Petroniana Albucia, Fulg. Myth. praef. 1.