trādĭtĭo, ōnis, f. [trado], a giving up, delivering up, surrender (not freq. till after the Aug. period).
I Lit.
A In gen.: Gomphorum (urbis), Liv. 32, 14, 3: urbis, id. 33, 31, 2: oppidorum, id. 34, 30, 1: Jugurthae, Plin. 37, 1, 4, § 8; Val. Max. 8, 14, 4.—
B Esp., law t. t., livery , a delivery of possession : abalienatio est ejus rei quae mancipi est traditio alteri nexu, * Cic. Top. 5, 28: nuda traditione alienare, Gai. Inst. 2, 19 al.—
II Trop.
A A teaching , instruction : jejuna atque arida traditio (praeceptorum), Quint. 3, 1, 3; cf. id. 3, 1, 2: adeo non est infinito spatio ac traditione opus, id. 12, 11, 16: divina, Lact. 7, 8, 3.—
B A saying handed down from former times , a tradition : incomperta et vulgaria traditio rei, Gell. 16, 5, 1; 13, 22, 14; Tac. A. 16, 16 fin. ; cf. codicum, Aug. Bapt. 7, 2.—Esp., in eccl. Lat.: traditio seniorum, Vulg. Matt. 15, 2; id. Marc. 7, 3.