prandĭum, ii, n. [Sanscr. prep-, pra-, before; Gr. πρῳην; Dor. πράν, early; and Lat. dies; hence, early in the day, sc. that taken or eaten],
I a late breakfast , luncheon (cf.: jentaculum, cena), usually taken at or soon after noon, composed of bread, fish, cold meats, etc. (it was thought gluttonous to have several dishes and wine at the prandium): ire ad prandium, Plaut. Capt. 3, 1, 18; id. Stich. 4, 2, 45: adducere aliquem ad se ad prandium, id. Poen. 5, 5, 3: coquere alicui prandium, id. Men. 2, 3, 37: funus prandio facere, id. ib. 3, 2, 27: apparare, to get ready , prepare , id. ib. 1, 2, 61: accurare, id. ib. 3, 25: ornare, id. Rud. 1, 2, 53: dare, to give , id. Am. 2, 2, 33: obsonare alicui, id. Poen. 5, 5, 16: anteponere, to set before , serve up , id. Men. 2, 2, 2: comedere, id. ib. 3, 2, 55: prandere, id. Poen. 3, 5, 14: in prandio aliquem accipere apud se, id. Cist. 1, 1, 12: invitare ad prandium, Cic. Mur. 35, 73: prandiorum apparatus, id. Phil. 2, 39, 101; id. Verr. 2, 1, 19, § 49: ad prandium surgere, Suet. Calig. 58: panis deinde siccus et sine mensā prandium: post quod non sunt lavendae manus, Sen. Ep. 83, 6: post prandium aut cenam bibere volgare est, id. ib. 122, 6: de prandio nihil detrahi potuit; paratum fuit non magis hora, nusquam sine caricis, nusquam sine pugillaribus: illae, si panem habeo, propulmentario sunt, si non habeo, pro pane, id. ib. 87, 3: prandia cenis usque in lucem ingesta, id. Q. N. 4, 13, 6. The candidates gave such prandia to their tribules, Cic. Mur. 32, 67; the emperor to the people, Suet. Caes. 38; id. Tib. 20; cf. also Cic. Att. 5, 1, 3; Mart. 6, 64, 2; Suet. Vit. 13; id. Aug. 78; id. Claud. 34.—
II Transf.
A Poet., a meal , in gen.: qui scribit prandia saevi Tereos, Mart. 4, 49, 3.—
B The feed or fodder of animals: bubus glandem prandio depromere, Plaut. Truc. 3, 1, 2: prandio dato ipsis jumentisque eorum, Val. Max. 3, 7, 1.