mātrōna, ae, f. [mater], a married woman, wife, matron (whether she was in manu or not; consequently more general in its application than mater familias, which always denoted one who was in manu).
I In gen.: matronam dictam esse proprie, quae in matrimonium cum viro convenisset, quoad in eo matrimonio maneret, etiamsi liberi nondum nati forent: dictamque esse ita a matris nomine non adepto jam sed cum spe et omine mox adipiscendi: unde ipsum quoque matrimonium dicitur; matrem autem familias appellatam esse eam solam, quae in mariti manu mancipioque, aut in ejus, in cujus maritus, manu mancipicque esset: quoniam non in matrimonium tantum, sed in familiam quoque mariti, et in sui heredis locum venisset, Gell. 18, 6, 8 and 9: convocatis plebeis matronis, Liv. 10, 23, 6.—Only rarely of a married woman, woman in general: ut matronarum hic facta pernovit probe, Plaut. Aul. 3, 5, 30: quae (dea) quia partus matronarum tueatur, Cic. N. D. 3, 18, 47; cf.: et fetus matrona dabit, * Tib. 2, 5, 91: cum prole matronisque nostris, Hor. C. 4, 15, 27: tyranni, id. ib. 3, 2, 7: matronae muros complent, Enn. ap. Serv ad Verg. G. 1, 18 (Ann. v 376 Vahl.): tum muros variā cinxere coronā Matronae, * Verg. A. 11, 476: matronae tacitae spectent, tacitae rideant Plaut. Poen. prol. 32 Suet. Ner. 27: matronas prostratae pudicitiae, id. Tib. 35: dilectae adulter matronae, Juv. 10, 319.—
II Esp.
A The word very early acquired the accessory idea of (moral or social) dignity, rank. Matronae is thus used even by Ennius of women of quality, ladies : matronae opulentae, optimates, Enn. ap. Cic. Fam. 7, 6 (Trag. v. 294 Vahl.); cf., in like manner, in Plautus: ubi istas videas summo genere natas Summates matronas, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 26; so Cicero applies to the noble women carried off from the Sabines the term matronae, Cic. Rep. 2, 7, 13: matrona laris, the lady of the house , Juv. 3, 110.—
B With the accessory idea of estimable, virtuous, chaste, etc.: nominis matronae sanctitudinem, Afran. ap. Non. 174, 9: eam hic ornatam adducas ad matronarum modum, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 196 Brix ad loc.; cf.: matronarum sanctitas, Cic. Cael. 13, 32: VETERIS SANCTITATIS MATRONA, Inscr. Orell. 2739. So opp. meretrix, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 80; cf. id. Most. 1, 3, 33; id. Cas. 3, 3, 22: ut matrona meretrici dispar erit atque Discolor, Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 3; Plaut. Stich. 1, 2, 48: matronae praeter faciem nil cernere possis, etc., Hor. S. 1, 2, 94: capitis matrona pudici, Juv. 6, 49.—
C Hence, an appellation of Juno : hinc matrona Juno (stetit), Hor. C. 3, 4, 59: MATRONIS IVNONIBVS, Inscr. Orell. 2085; and of other protecting goddesses of places, ib. 2081 sq. (But not of vestals; v. Drak. ad Liv. 29, 14, 12.)