ārĕa (in inscriptions freq. ARIA, Inscr. Orell. 4130, etc.), ae, f [some comp. ἔραζε = on the ground; Germ. Erde; Engl. earth, hearth; others, as Varro and Festus, connected it with areo, as if pr. dry land, as terra may be connected with torreo; so Bopp and Curt.], a piece of level ground, a vacant place, esp. in the town (syn.: planities, aequor): in urbe loca pura areae, Varr. L. L. 5, § 38 Müll: area proprie dicitur locus vacuus, Paul. ex Fest. p. 11 Müll.: locus sine aedificio in urbe area; rure autem ager appellatur, Dig. 50, 16, 211.
I Lit., ground for a house, a building-spot : si Ponendae domo quaerenda est area primum, Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 13. arearum electio, Vitr. 1, 7, 1: pontifices si sustulerint religionem, aream praeclaram habebimus, Cic. Att. 4, 1 fin. ; Liv. 4, 16; 1, 55; Suet. Vesp. 8; Dig. 7, 4, 10 al.—
II Transf.
A A vacant space around or in a house , a court (syn. spatium): resedimus in areā domŭs, Plin. Ep. 6, 20, 4; so id. ib. 7, 27, 10; Vulg. 3 Reg. 22, 10; Dig. 43, 22, 1; 8, 2, 1 al.—
B An open space for games , an open play-ground (syn.: campus, curriculum), Hor. C. 1, 9, 18.— Hence, in gen., a field for effort , etc. (syn.: campus, locus, q. v.), Ov. Am. 3, 1, 26, and trop.: area scelerum, i. e. where vices have full scope , Cic. Att. 9, 18.—Also, a raceground , Ov. F. 4, 10 (cf. id. ib. 2, 360); and trop., the course of life : vitae tribus areis peractis (i. e. pueritiā, juventute, senectute), Mart. 10, 24.—
C A threshing floor (among the ancients, an open space in the vicinity of the house).
1 Lit.: neque in segetibus neque in areis neque in horreis, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 8; Hor. C. 1, 1, 10; id. S. 1, 1, 45; Tib. 1, 5, 22; Vulg. Gen. 50, 10; ib. Isa. 21, 10. Its construction may be learned from Cato R. R. 91 and 129; Varr. R. R. 1, 51; Verg. G. 1, 178 sqq. Voss; Col. 5, 1, 4; 5, 2, 20; and Pall. 1, 36 al.—
2 Trop., of the body of Christians , as subject to separation , judgment (eccl. Lat.), Vulg. Matt. 3, 12; Aug. Ver. Rel. 5.—
D The halo around the sun or moon : tales splendores Graeci areas (i. e. ἅλωνας) vocavere, Sen. Q. N. 1, 2.—
E A bed or border in a garden , Varr. L. L. 6, § 64 Müll.; Col. 11, 3; Plin. 19, 4, 20, § 60; Pall. 1, 34.—
F A fowling-floor , Plaut. As. 1, 3, 64: aedes nobis area est; auceps sum ego, id. ib. 1, 3, 67.—
G A burying-ground , church-yard , Tert. ad Scap. 3. —
H A bald spot upon the head , baldness , Cels. 6, 4; Mart. 5, 50.