libamentum

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

lībāmentum, i, n. [libo], that which is poured out in offerings to the gods, a drinkoffering, libation (class.).

I Lit.: ut sacrificiorum libamenta serventur, Cic. Leg. 2, 12, 29: libamenta Veneri solvere, Just. 12, 10, 4: haec ego nascentes laetus bacchatus ad aras libamenta tuli, offerings , Stat. S. 3, 1, 163: dona magnifica, quasi libamenta praedarum, first-fruits , Cic. Rep. 2, 24, 44: haec est lex sacrificii et libamentorum, Vulg. Lev. 6, 14 (cf. libamen, I. A.).—

II Trop.

A That which is tasted : varia illa libamenta, Sen. Ep. 84, 5.—

B A trial, first attempt, a sample, specimen (post-class. and very rare): primitias quasdam et quasi libamenta ingenuarum artium dedimus, Gell. N. A. praef. § 13; Gell. id. 16, 8, 15.