frons (also anciently fruns; plur. frundes, Enn. Ann. 266 Vahl.; cf. Charis. p. 105 P.—Also in nom. fros or frus, Varr. ib.; Enn. v in the foll.; cf. Prisc. p. 554 P.; and FRONDIS, acc. to Serv. Verg. G. 2, 372), dis, f. [etym. dub.], a leafy branch, green bough, foliage.
I Lit. (class.; in sing. and plur.; syn. folium).
α Sing. : populea frus, Enn. ap. Aus. Technop. (Edyll. 5) 158 sq. ( id. Ann. v. 562 Vahl.): ilignea, quernea, Cato R. R. 37, 2: in nemoribus, ubi virgulta et frons multa, Varr. R. R. 2, 5, 11: bobus praestabit vilicus frondem, Col. 11, 3, 101: alta frons decidit, Varr. ap. Non. 486, 13: ne caules allii in frondem luxurient, Plin. 19, 6, 34, § 113: perenni frunde corona, Lucr. 1, 119: nigrae feraci frondis in Algido, Hor. C. 4, 4, 58: sine fronde, Ov. Tr. 3, 10, 75: immaturam destringere, Quint. 12, 6, 2.—
β Plur. : russescunt frundes, Enn. ap. Charis. p. 105 P. (Ann. v. 266 Vahl.): deserta via et inculta atque interclusa jam frondibus et virgultis relinquatur, Cic. Cael. 18, 42: viminibus salices fecundi, frondibus ulmi, Verg. G. 2, 446: frondibus teneris non adhibendam esse falcem, Quint. 2, 4, 11: bovemque Disjunctum curas et strictis frondibus exples, Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 28; id. C. 3, 18, 14.—
II Poet. transf., a garland made of leafy boughs , a garland of leaves , leafy chaplet : donec Alterutrum velox victoria fronde coronet, Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 64; so in sing., id. C. 4, 2, 36; id. Ep. 2, 1, 110: nos delubra deum festa velamus fronde, Verg. A. 2, 249; 5, 661; Ov. M. 1, 449; 565; id. A. A. 1, 108.—In plur., Ov. F. 1, 711; 3, 482.