cărĭes, em, ē (other cases appear not to be in use), f.
I Decay , caries (prop. of a hard, dry decay, not of rottenness); of wood, Varr. ap. Non. p. 83, 12; Vitr. 7, 3; Col. 11, 2; Plin. 16, 39, 74, § 188; 16, 39, 76, § 197; 16, 40, 78, § 212; Ov. Tr. 5, 12, 27.— Of walls, Amm. 16, 2, 1.—Of bones, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 21, 24; Cels. 8, 2.—Of dry soil, Col. 3, 11.—Of the taste of old wine, flatness , Col. 3, 2, 17; Plin. 15, 2, 3, § 7; 23, 1, 22, § 40; 14, 4, 6, § 55.—Of old fruit, Mart. 13, 29, 1.—Hence,
II Trop., in ridicule, of old, withered persons: nemo illā vivit carie cariosior, Afran. ap. Non. p. 21, 27; Turp. ib.