nūmen, ĭnis, n. [for nuimen, root nu-; Gr. νεύω, nod; Lat. nuo in re-nuo, etc], prop., a nodding with the head, a nod: numen quasi nutus dei ac potestas dicitur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 173 Müll.—Hence, trop., a nod, i. e. command, will. *
I In gen.: ad numen mentis momenque moveri, Lucr. 3, 144 (but id. 2, 632, and 4, 179, the correct reading is momine, v. Lachm.).—
II In partic., the divine will, the will or power of the gods, divine sway (the class. signif. of the word): numen dicunt esse imperium, dictum ab nutu: numina sunt, quojus imperium maximum esse videatur, Varr. L. L. 7, § 85 Müll.: deo, cujus numini parent omnia, Cic. Div. 1, 53, 120: multa saepe prodigia vim ejus (Cereris) numenque declarant, id. Verr. 2, 4, 49, § 107: di inmortales suo numine atque auxilio sua templa atque urbis tecta defendunt, id. Cat. 2, 13, 29: numen interdictumque deorum immortalium, id. Pis. 21, 48: nox et Diana, Nunc, nunc adeste, nunc in hostiles domos Iram atque numen vertite, Hor. Epod. 5, 54.—To Fortune: nullum numen abest, si sit prudentia, Juv. 10, 365.—Hence, transf., of the will, might, authority of powerful persons: flectere tenta Caesareum numen, numine, Bacche, tuo, Ov. Tr. 5, 3, 45; cf. id. P. 4, 13, 24: annuite, Patres Conscripti, nutum numenque vestrum invictum Campanis, Liv. 7, 30; cf.: quanta potestas, quanta majestas, quantum denique numen, sit historiae, Plin. Ep. 9, 27, 1.—
B Godhead, divinity, deity, divine majesty , etc.: numina Palladis, Verg. A. 3, 543: per Dianae numina, Hor. Epod. 17, 3: venerantur numina nymphae, Mygdonidesque nurus, Ov. M. 6, 44: audis ... positas ut glaciet nives Puro numine Juppiter, Hor. C. 3, 10, 8.—Concr., a divinity, deity, a god, goddess : caeleste numen, Liv. 1, 21, 1; Val. Max. 2, 4, 4; 5, 1, 3; Amm. 19, 1, 4: summum, Sen. Q. N. 7, 30, 4; Amm. 15, 8, 9; 17, 7, 3 al.: templa et effigies numinum, Tac. A. 1, 10; 1, 73; 3, 71; 15, 45; Suet. Calig. 22: nos magna precati Numina, Verg. A. 3, 634: si quem Numina laeva sinunt, id. G. 4, 7: promissaque numine firmat, i. e. by calling a god to witness, by an oath , Ov. M. 10, 430: vadimus immixti haud numine nostro, the divinity not with us , Verg. A. 2, 396, cf. sqq.: hospes numinis Idaei, Juv. 3, 138: in contumeliam numinum, Plin. Pan. 11: Titus numinibus aequatus est, id. ib. 35: numinis loco habere, Tac. G. 8: numina quibus sacrificabat, Val. Max. 5, 10, ext. 2: ea numina, i. e. Apollo and Diana, Tac. A. 3, 61; Plin. 4, 7, 12, § 25; 18, 13, 35, § 132.—Of the manes of a beloved person: juro per illos manes, numina mei doloris, Quint. 6 prooem. § 10 Spald.