bellātrix, īcis, f. [bellator], a female warrior; freq. in close apposition, and taking the place of an adj. (cf. bellator, II.), warlike, skilled in war, serviceable in war (mostly poet.).
I Lit.: Penthesilea, Verg. A. 1, 493: diva, i. e. Pallas , Ov. Tr. 1, 5, 76: Minerva, id. M. 8, 264: Roma, id. Tr. 2, 321: Hispania, Flor. 2, 6, 38: cohors, Stat. Th. 6, 262: belua, i. e. the elephant , Sil. 9, 576.—
B Transf., of inanim. things: carinae, Stat. Th. 7, 57: glaeba, i. e. producing warriors , Val. Fl. 7, 612: pompa, Claud. III. Cons. Hon. 2: aquilae, ensigns , standards , id. Nupt. Hon. et Mar. 193.—
II Trop.: ista bellatrix iracundia, this warlike rage , * Cic. Tusc. 4, 24, 54; cf. ira, Claud. in Rufin. 2, 118.