vēna, ae, f. [perh. root veh-, to carry, etc.; prop. a pipe, channel; Gr. ὀχετός], a blood-vessel, vein.
I Lit.
1 In gen.: venae et arteriae a corde tractae et profectae in corpus omne ducuntur, Cic. N. D. 2, 55, 139: venam incidere, id. Pis. 34, 83; Cels. 2, 10: bracchiorum venas interscindere, Tac. A. 15, 35: abrumpere, id. ib. 15, 59: abscindere, id. ib. 15, 69: exsolvere, id. ib. 16, 17; 16, 19: pertundere, Juv. 6, 46: secare, Suet. Vit. Luc.: ferire, Verg. G. 3, 460: solvere, Col. 6, 14, 3.—
2 In partic., an artery : si cui venae sic moventur, is habet febrem, Cic. Fat. 8, 15; Cels. 3, 6: tentare, to feel the pulse , Suet. Tib. 72 fin. ; for which, tangere, Pers. 3, 107; Sid. Ep. 22: si protinus venae conciderunt, i. e. the pulse has sunk or fallen , Cels. 3, 5; cf.: venis fugientibus, Ov. P. 3, 1, 69.—
B Transf., of things that resemble veins.
1 A water-course , Hirt. B. G. 8, 43; Auct. B. Alex. 8, 1: fecundae vena aquae, Ov. Tr. 3, 7, 16; Mart. 10, 30, 10.—
2 A vein of metals , Cic. N. D. 2, 60, 151; Juv. 9, 31.—
3 The urinary passage , Cels. 4, 1.—
4 A vein or streak of wood, Plin. 16, 38, 73, § 184; 13, 15, 30, § 97. —Of stone, Plin. 37, 6, 24, § 91; Stat. S. 1, 3, 36.—
5 A row of trees in a garden, Plin. 17, 11, 15, § 76.—
6 = membrum virile, Mart. 4, 66, 12; 6, 49, 2; 11, 16, 5; Pers. 6, 72.—
II Trop.
A The strength : vino fulcire venas cadentes, Sen. Ep. 95, 22; id. Ben. 3, 9, 22; cf. Hor. S. 2, 3, 153.—
B The interior , the innate or natural quality or nature of a thing: periculum residebit et erit inclusum penitus in venis et visceribus rei publicae, Cic. Cat. 1, 13, 31: (orator) teneat oportet venas cujusque generis, aetatis, ordinis, the innermost feelings , the spring , pulse , id. de Or. 1, 52, 223: si ulla vena paternae disciplinae in nobis viveret, Sev. ap. Spart. Pesc. 3.—
C For a person's natural bent , genius , disposition , vein (the fig. taken from veins of metal): ego nec studium sine divite venā, Nec rude quid possit video ingenium, Hor. A. P. 409: tenuis et angusta ingenii, Quint. 6, 2, 3: benigna ingenii, Hor. C. 2, 18, 10: publica (vatis), Juv. 7, 53.