mŏdĭus, ii (gen. plur. modiūm: qui CCCC. modium quinque milia, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 36, § 83: modiorum, Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 72), m. (neutr. collat. form: mŏdĭum, ii, n., Cato R. R. 58; so in plur.: modia vicena, Plin. 18, 16, 43, § 145) [modus],
I the Roman corn-measure, a measure, peck , containing sixteen sextarii, or the sixth part of a Greek medimnus (class.): salis modium, Cato R. R. 58: tritici modius, Cic. Div. in Caecil. 10, 30: siligneae farinae modius, Plin. 18, 9, 20, § 88: modium populo dare asse, Cic. Off. 2, 17, 58: agri Leontini decumae tertio anno venierunt tritici medimnum XXXVI., hoc est tritici modium CC. et XVI. milibus, id. Verr. 2, 3, 46, § 110: non minorem quam decem milium modiorum navem fabricare, Ulp. Fragm. 3, 6.— Prov.: verum illud est, quod dicitur, multos modios salis simul edendos esse, ut amicitiae munus expletum sit, Cic. Lael. 19, 67: modio nummos metiri, to measure one's money by the peck , said of a rich woman, Petr. 37; cf.: dives, ut metiretur nummos, Hor. S. 1, 1, 95: ego nunc mihi modium mille esse argenti velim, Plaut. Stich. 4, 2, 9; Juv. 3, 220: pleno modio, in full measure, abundantly , Cic. Att. 6, 1, 16; cf.: argumentum vobis demensum dabo, non modo neque trimodio, verum ipso horreo, Plaut. Men. prol. 15: servorum ventres modio castigat iniquo, with short measure , Juv. 14, 126.—Also as a measure for other things, a peck : metiri modio oleario, Cato R. R. 144: ut metientibus dimidium (anulorum aureorum) super tres modios explesse, Liv. 23, 12; Pall. 6, 4, 1.—
II Transf.
A Among surveyors, the third part of a jugerum, Auct. de Limit. p. 264 and 312 Goes.; Pall. Mai. 4 al. —
B The socket, step, shoe in which the mast of a ship stands, Isid. Orig. 19, 2, 8.