dīlŭvĭes, ēi, f., also dīlŭvĭum, ii, n., and dīlŭvĭo, ōnis, f. [diluo], lit., a washing away of the earth; hence,
I Transf., an inundation, flood, deluge (in all three forms only poet. and in post-Aug. prose; yet in Seneca, Quaestt. Natt., diluvium stands for the general deluge; v. infra, β).
α Diluvies, Lucr. 5, 255; 6, 292; Hor. C. 3, 29, 40; 4, 14, 28; Plin. 9, 4, 3, § 8.—
β Diluvium, Verg. A. 12, 205; Ov. M. 1, 434; Sen. Q. N. 3, 27; 29; Plin. Ep. 8, 17; Flor. 4, 2, 3; cf. Vulg. Matt. 24, 38 al.—
γ Diluvio, Censor. 18 med. ; Tert. Anim. 46.—
II Trop.: diluvio ex illo tot vasta per aequora vecti, desolation, destruction , Verg. A. 7, 228 (ex illa vastitate, Serv.), a deluge of invasion , Val. Fl. 6, 394.