frēnum or fraenum, i, n., and more freq. (cf. Neue, Formenl. 1, 567; and v. infra), plur. heterocl. frēni, ōrum, m., and mostly poet. frēna, ōrum, n. [root dhar-; Sanscr. dhar-ā-mi, hold, support; Gr. θρα-, in θρῆνυς, θρόνος; Lat. frētus], a bridle, curb, bit (syn.: lupi, lupata).
I Lit.
α Plur. : aurei freni, Curt. 4, 13 med. ; so nom. freni, id. 7, 10 fin. ; cf. under II.; acc. frena, Verg. A. 4, 135; 5, 818; Ov. M. 15, 519; id. Am. 3, 4, 16: non domito frenos ore momordit equus, Tib. 1, 3, 42; so, frenos: equus, equa, quae frenos recipere solet, Cic. Top. 8, 36; Varr. R. R. 2, 7, 12; Verg. G. 3, 184; Liv. 1, 48, 6; Sen. Tranq. 15 fin. al.: moderarier hunc (equum) frenis, Lucr. 5, 1298; so, frenis, id. 5, 1317; Verg. A. 11, 719; 889; 12, 372; Hor. S. 1, 1, 91; Ov. M. 5, 643; Liv. 1, 14 fin. : equum cogere frenos pati, Phaedr. 4, 3, 9: frenos et strata equorum Pelethronium (invenisse), Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 202 et saep.—
β Sing. : frenumque (equus) recepit, etc., Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 36: non frenum depulit ore, id. ib. 1, 10, 38.—
b Prov.: frenum mordere, to take the bit in one's teeth , i. e. to offer opposition , to resist : si frenum momorderis peream, Brut. ap. Cic. Fam. 11, 23, 2; cf.: sed ut mones, frenum momordi, Cic. ib. 11, 24, 1.—
II Transf.
A Like our terms bridle and curb , i. q. means of guiding or governing , restraint , check , limit.
α Plur. : rerum freni, the reins of dominion , Sil. 1, 240: freni sunt injecti vobis, Quirites, nullo modo perpetiendi: alligati et constricti estis amaro vinculo servitutis, Val. Max. 2, 9, 5; cf.: freni domitarum gentium, Curt. 7, 10 fin. : ne Lycurgi quidem disciplina tenuit illos in hominibus Graecis frenos, Cic. Rep. 2, 33: ut Isocratem in acerrimo ingenio Theopompi et lenissimo Ephori dixisse traditum est, alteri se calcaria adhibere, alteri frenos, id. Brut. 56, 204: Mutinam illi exsultanti tamquam frenos furoris injecit, id. Phil. 13, 9, 20: date frenos impotenti naturae et indomito animali, give the reins to , allow full scope to , Liv. 34, 2, 13; so, frenos furentibus ira Laxat, Luc. 7, 125: impone felicitati tuae frenos, put on , Curt. 7, 8 fin. : imperii frena tenere sui, Ov. Tr. 2, 42: frena imperii moderari, id. P. 2, 9, 33: capere, id. ib. 4, 13, 27: frena licentiae inicere, Hor. C. 4, 15, 10: pone irae frena modumque, Pone et avaritiae, Juv. 8, 88: subiit leges et frena momordit Ille solutus amor, i. e. submitted to , Stat. S. 1, 2, 28: quod dicebat Isocrates, se calcaribus in Ephoro, contra autem in Theopompo frenis uti solere, Cic. de Or. 3, 9, 36; Quint. 2, 8, 11; cf. above the passage Cic. Brut. 56, 204: alter, uti dixit Isocrates in Ephoro et Theopompo, frenis eget, alter calcaribus, id. Att. 6, 1, 12: non solum frenis sed etiam jugo accepto, Liv. 37, 36, 5: animum rege: qui nisi paret, Imperat: hunc frenis, hunc tu compesce catenā, Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 63: jam vaga prosiliet frenis natura remotis, id. S. 2, 7, 74.—
β Sing. : ni frenum accipere et victi parere fatentur, Verg. A. 12, 568: voluptates tenere sub freno, Sen. Ep. 23 med. —
B Poet., horse , steed , charger : eques aptus frenis, Prop. 4 (5), 10, 19: portarumque moras frenis assultat et hastis, Stat. Th. 11, 243.—
C In gen.
1 That which holds things together , a band (post-Aug. and rare): absiliunt pontes tectique trementis Saxea frena labant, etc., the stone bands , ties , Stat. Th. 10, 880.—
2 In anatomy: frenum, the ligament which attaches the inside of the foreskin to the glans , Cels. 7, 25, 2.