epulum

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

ĕpŭlum, i, n., and in the plur. heterocl. ĕpŭlae, ārum (EPULAM antiqui etiam singulariter posuere, Paul. ex Fest. p. 82, 14 Müll.), f. [etym. dub.; perh. contr. from edipulum, from edo], sumptuous food or dishes (cf.: daps, commissatio, convivium, cena, etc.).

I Prop. (only in the plur.): si illi congestae sint epulae, Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 70: mensae conquisitissimis epulis exstruebantur, Cic. Tusc. 5, 21, 62: vino et epulis onerati, Sall. J. 76 fin. ; so opp. vinum, Liv. 8, 16; 9, 18 Drak.; 23, 18; Nep. Dion. 4, 4 al.; cf. opp. merum, Ov. M. 8, 572; opp. pocula, Verg. G. 4, 378; id. A. 1, 723: postquam exempta fames epulis, id. ib. 1, 216; Ov. M. 8, 829; 15, 82; Plin. 33, 1, 6, § 27 al.—Poet.: vestis, blattarum ac tinearum epulae, Hor. S. 2, 3, 119; cf. Verg. A. 6, 599.—

B Trop.: oculis epulas dare, Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 2: pars animi saturata bonarum cogitationum epulis, Cic. Div. 1, 29, 61; cf. discendi, id. Top. 4 fin.

II In gen., a sumptuous meal , a banquet , feast (in the sing. usually of banquets held on religious festivals or other public occasions, or which were given to a number of persons; cf. 1. epulo, II.).

A Sing. : Jovis epulum fuit ludorum causa, Liv. 25, 2 fin. ; cf. id. 27, 36; 31, 4 fin. ; 33, 42 fin. ; Val. Max. 2, 1, 2; Gell. 12, 8, 2: funebre, Cic. Vat. 12 sq.; cf. Liv. 39, 46: epulum dare, Cic. Mur. 36; Vell. 2, 56; Tac. H. 1, 76; Hor. S. 2, 3, 86 et saep.; (with visceratio), Suet. Caes. 38; cf. the foll. Of a feast in general, Suet. Aug. 98; Juv. 3, 229. —

B Plur.

1 In gen.: quae (carmina) in epulis esse cantitata, Cic. Brut. 19, 75; cf. id. Tusc. 1, 2, 3 sq.; Quint. 1, 10, 20: in quibusdam neque pecuniae modus est neque honoris, nec epularum, Cic. Fin. 1, 16, 51: regis, id. Rep. 2, 21; Hor. S. 2, 2, 45; cf. * Caes. B. G. 6, 28 fin. : divum, Verg. A. 1, 79: prodigae, Tac. H. 1, 62: familiares, Suet. Ner. 22 et saep.—

2 Esp., less freq. of banquets on religious or public festivals (cf. A.), Cic. Leg. 2, 25, 63; id. Fl. 38, 95; Hor. C. 3, 8, 6; cf. (with viscerationes), Cic. Off. 2, 16; Vulg. Esth. 8, 17 al.

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