ōvum, i, n. [ὠόν, i. e. ΩϝΟΝ].
I Lit., an egg : ovum parere, to lay , Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 18, 57; Varr. R. R. 3, 9, 8: edere, Col. 8, 3, 4: ponere, Ov. M. 8, 258: efferre, Verg. G. 1, 379: eniti, Col. 8, 11, 8 sq.: facere, Varr. R. R. 3, 9, 17: pullos ex ovis excuderunt, to hatch , Cic. N. D. 2, 52, 130 B. and K. (al. excluserunt): incubare ova, to sit on , brood on , hatch , Varr. R. R. 3, 9, 8; 12; for which: incubare ovis, Col. 8, 11, 14: suppovere ova, id. 8, 6, 1: an pulli rostellis ova percuderint ... nam saepe propter crassitudinem putaminum erumpere non queunt, Col. 8, 5, 14: quatenus in pullos animalis vertier ova cernimus alituum, Lucr. 2, 927.—Also of the spawn of fish, etc.: etsi pisces, ova cum genuerunt relinquunt, Cic. N. D. 2, 51, 129: testudines autem et crocodilos dicunt ... obruere ova, id. ib. 2, 52, 129: saepius et tectis penetralibus extulit ova ... formica, Verg. G. 1, 380; Plin. 10, 52, 74, § 145: ovi putamen, an eggshell , Col. 8, 5, 14: cortex ovi, Ser. Samm. 28, 531.—The Romans usually began their meals with eggs and ended them with fruit; hence, integram famem ad ovum affero, until the egg , i. e. the beginning of the meal , Cic. Fam. 9, 20, 1; and: ab ovo Usque ad mala citaret, Io Bacche! i. e. from the beginning to the end , Hor. S. 1, 3, 6.—Acc. to the myth, Leda became pregnant by Jupiter, who visited her in the shape of a swan; she laid two eggs, one by Jupiter, and the other by Tyndarus; from the former of which were born Pollux and Helen, and from the latter Castor and Clytaemnestra; hence, nec gemino bellum Trojanum orditur ab ovo, Hor. A. P. 147: Castor gaudet equis, ovo prognatus eodem Pugnis, from the same egg , i. e. of the same parentage , id. S. 2, 1, 26.—In the circus seven wooden eggs were set up, one of which was removed at the completion of each circuit; hence, non modo ovum illud sublatum est, quod, etc., Varr. R. R. 1, 2: ova ad notas curriculis numerandis, Liv. 41, 27, 6.—
II Transf.
A An egg-shell (as a measure), an egg-shellful , Plin. 22, 25, 67, § 137.—
B An egg-shape , oval shape , oval , Calp. Ecl. 7, 34.