nēnĭa (naenĭa), ae (abl. neniā, dissyl., Ov. F. 6, 142), f.,
I a funeral song, song of lamentation, dirge : naenia est carmen quod in funere laudandi gratiā cantatur ad tibiam, Paul. ex Fest. p. 161 Müll.; cf. Macr. Somn. Scip. 2, 3; Diom. p. 482 P.: honoratorum virorum laudes cantu ad tibicinem prosequantur, cui nomen nenia, Cic. Leg. 2, 24, 62: absint inani funere neniae, Hor. C. 2, 20, 21; Suet. Aug. 100.—
II Transf.
1 A mournful song or ditty of any kind: Ceae retractes munera neniae, Hor. C. 2, 1, 38: huic homini amanti mea era dixit neniam de bonis, has sung the death-dirge over his property , i. e. has buried, has consumed it , Plaut. Truc. 2, 1, 3.—Prov.: nenia ludo id fuit, my joy was turned to grief , Plaut. Ps. 5, 1, 32.—
2 A magic song, incantation : Marsa, Hor. Epod. 17, 29.—
3 A common, trifling song, popular song; a nursery song, lullaby; a song in gen.: puerorum Nenia, quae regnum recte facientibus offert, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 62: dicetur meritā Nox quoque neniā, id. C. 3, 28, 16: legesne potius viles nenias? mere songs , Phaedr. 3 prol. 10: lenes neniae, lullabies , Arn. 7, 237: histrionis, id. 6, 197.—
4 Nenia soricina, the cry of the shrewmouse when caught and pierced through , Plaut. Bacch. 4, 8, 48.—
5 Personified: Nēnia , the goddess of funeral songs, the dirge-goddess , to whom a chapel was dedicated before the Viminal gate, Arn. 4, 131; Aug. Civ. Dei, 6, 9.