gĕna, ae, and more freq. gĕnae, ārum, f. [Sanscr. hanus, jaw; ganda, cheek; cf. Gr. γένυς; Germ. Kinn], lit., the upper part of the face, from the cheek-bones to the eyelids; hence, in gen., a cheek; plur., the cheeks (cf.: bucca, mala).
I Lit.: genae ab inferiore parte tutantur subjectae leniterque eminentes, Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 143; cf. Plin. 11, 37, 57, § 156 sqq.
α Plur. : ad haec omnia exprimenda in palpebris etiam et genis est quoddam deserviens iis ministerium, Quint. 11, 3, 77; cf. Plin. 23, 1, 24, § 49: ad genarum crassitudines et oculorum albugines, id. 32, 9, 31, § 98: MVLIERES GENAS NE RADVNTO, Fragm. XII. Tab. ap. Cic. Leg. 2, 23 fin. ; Plin. 11, 37, 58, § 157; Fest. s. v. radere, p. 273 Müll.: lacrimae peredere humore exsangues genas, Poët. (perh. Pacuv.) ap. Cic. Tusc. 3, 12, 26; cf.: manat rara meas lacrima per genas, Hor. C. 4, 1, 34: lacrimis humectent ora genasque, Lucr. 1, 920; cf. id. 2, 977; 3, 469: pulchrae, Hor. C. 4, 13, 8: nunc primum opacat flore lanugo genas, Pac. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 94 Müll. (Trag. Rel. p. 103 Rib.): pilosae, Cic. Pis. 1, 1: erasae, Prop. 4 (5), 8, 26: tum mihi prima genas vestibat flore juventa, Verg. A. 8, 160: leves, Quint. 12, 10, 8: confusa pudore sensi me totis erubuisse genis, Ov. H. 21, 112; Vulg. Cant. 1, 9 al.—
β Sing. : atque genua comprimit arta gena, i. e. presses (beseechingly) the cheek close to his knee , Enn. ap. Isid. Orig. 11, 1, 109 dub. (cf. Vahl. Enn. p. 176): genam non leviter perstringere, Suet. Claud. 15 fin. : gena inferior, superior, Plin. 11, 37, 57, § 156 (v. above).—
II Transf.: genae (not in sing.).
A In Ennius for palpebrae, the eyelids : genas Ennius palpebras putat, cum dicit hoc versu: Pandite sulti' genas et corde relinquite somnum, Paul. ex Fest. s. h. v. p. 94 Müll. (Ann. v. 521 Vahl.): imprimitque genae genam, Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 6, 686 (Trag. v. 436 Vahl.).—
B The eye or eyes (poet.): exustaeque tuae mox, Polypheme, genae, Prop. 3, 12 (4, 11), 26: cornicum immeritas eruit ungue genas, id. 4 (5), 5, 16; Ov. P. 2, 8, 66; id. H. 20, 206.—
C The sockets of the eyes : expilatque genis oculos, Ov. M. 13, 562.