orbĭtas, ātis, f. [orbus], bereavement of parents or children, of a husband or other dear person, childlessness, orphanage, widowhood (class.).
I Lit.: in orbitatem liberos producere, Plaut. Capt. 3, 5, 105: bonum liberi, misera orbitas, Cic. Fin. 5, 28, 84: familiaris, Liv. 26, 41, 9: mea, quod sine liberis sum, Curt. 6, 9, 12: tutorem instituere (filiorum) orbitati, Cic. de Or. 1, 53, 228: horum uxores cum viderent exsilio additam orbitatem, Just. 2, 4, 4: maximā orbitate rei publicae virorum talium, at a time when the state is greatly in want of such men , Cic. Fam. 10, 3, 3.—In plur.: orbitates liberūm, Cic. Tusc. 5, 6, 16; 5, 9, 24; 3, 24, 58; Lact. 1, 21, 11; Sol. 40, 44; Arn. 5, 188.—
II Transf., in gen., a deprivation or loss of a thing (post-Aug.): luminis ( of an eye ), Plin. 7, 37, 37, § 124: tecti, id. 35, 3, 6, § 17.— Absol. , blindness , Ap. Met. 8, 12, 27.