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.