con-tŭbernĭum, ii, n. [taberna].
I Abstr.
A In milit. lang. (cf. contubernalis, I.).
1 Tent-companionship, a dwelling together in a tent : legionum, with the legions , Tac. A. 1, 41; id. H. 2, 80.—
b Concr., a body of soldiers occupying a tent together, a mess, squad : erant decani decem militibus propositi, qui nunc caput contubernii vocantur, Veg. Mil. 2, 8; 2, 13.—
2 The intercourse of a young man and the general accompanied by him in war, attendance , Cic. Planc. 11, 27; Sall. J. 64, 4; Liv. 42, 11, 7; Tac. Agr. 5 al.—
B Transf. from the sphere of milit. operations.
1 The accompanying, attendance (of teachers, friends, etc.), Suet. Aug. 89; id. Tib. 14; 56; Tac. Or. 5 al.—
2 In partic.,
α The marriage of slaves , Col. 12, 1, 2; Curt. 5, 5, 20; Dig. 40, 4, 59.—
β Ironically, in distinction from conubium: contubernium muliebris militiae, concubinage , Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 40, § 104; Petr. 92, 4; Suet. Caes. 49 al. —
b Of animals, a dwelling together , Phaedr. 2, 4, 4; cf.: si hominis contubernium passa est (bestia immanis), Sen. Ira, 3, 8, 2.— *
c Trop.: felicitatis et moderationis dividuum contubernium est, dwell not, exist not together , Val. Max. 9, 5 fin. —
II Concr. (acc. to I. A. and B.).
A A common wartent , Caes. B. C. 3, 76; Tac. A. 1, 17; 1, 41 al.—
B Transf., the dwelling of different persons , Suet. Calig. 10; 22; id. Ner. 34.—
2 The dwelling of a couple who are slaves, a slave dwelling , Tac. H. 1, 43; 3, 74.—
3 Of bees, Plin. 11, 11, 10, § 26.