bĭdental, ālis, n.; in the lang. of religion,
a place struck by lightning , consecrated by the haruspices , and enclosed; so called from the offering, bidens, with which the lightning was propitiated (v. also puteal), Fest. p. 27; Non. p. 53, 26; cf. O. Müll. Etrusk. 2, p. 171; v. Dict. of Antiq. (perh. it is better to explain bidens here as = fulmen, from its forked form; thus Bidental = Fulminar, the temple , or the consecrated place of lightning ): triste bidental Moverit incestus, * Hor. A. P. 471; Pers. 2, 27; Sid. Carm. 9, 191; Ap. Deo Socr. p. 46, 41; Inscr. Orell. 2483; cf. Luc. 1, 606; 8, 864.— The priest of a bidental: BIDENTALIS, Inscr. Grut. 96, 5 and 6.