clĭens or clŭens, entis (gen. plur. usu. clientium; clientūm, Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 7; Hor. C. 3, 5, 53; Sen. Ep. 68, 9; Macr. S. 1, 2, 1), m. (comm. acc. to Charis. p. 77 P.; cf. Neue, Formenl. 1, 600, and v. clienta) [for cluens, from clueo, to hear; but acc. to Serv. ad Verg. A. 6, 609, from colens],
I one who hears , in relation to his protector (patronus), a client (Dion. Halic. 2, 9 and 10, pp. 83-85; cf. Nieb. Röm. Gesch. 1, p. 359 sq.; Gell. 5, 13, 2; Cato ap. Gell. 5, 13, 4; Gell. 20, 1, 40; and clientela): cluentes sibi omnes volunt esse multos... Res magis quaeritur, quam cluentum fides Quojusmodi clueat, Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 4 sq.: PATRONVS. SI. CLIENTI. FRAVDEM. FECERIT. SACER. ESTO., Frag. XII. Tab. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 6, 609; Cato ap. Gell. 5, 13, 4: neque clientes sine summā infamiā deseri possunt, C. Caesar ib. fin. ; Cic. Rosc. Am. 7, 19 et saep.—
B In gen., a client , retainer , follower; e. g. of an adherent of the Gaul Orgetorix, Caes. B. G. 1, 4 (metaph. ὑπήκοος); 6, 15; 6, 19; of Segestes, Tac. A. 1, 57 al.—
2 A companion , favorite : juvenum nobilium (Vergilius), Hor. C. 4, 12, 15 Dillenb. ad loc.—
3 Of whole nations, the allies , dependents , or vassals of a more powerful people , Caes. B. G. 1, 31; 5, 39; 6, 12 al.—
II Trop.: cliens Bacchi (i. e. qui est in tutelā Bacchi), under the protection of Bacchus , a client of Bacchus , Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 78; cf. Mart. 12, 77, and clientela.