vēnātĭo, ōnis, f. [venor], hunting, the chase, venery.
I Lit.
A In gen.: conditiora facit haec supervacanei operis aucupium atque venatio, Cic. Sen. 16, 56: (Suevi) multum sunt in venationibus, Caes. B. G. 4, 1.—
B In partic., a hunting spectacle , hunt , battue; also, a combat of wild beasts , exhibited to the people: ludorum venationumque apparatu pecunias profundunt, Cic. Off. 2, 16, 55; id. Fam. 7, 1, 3; id. Att. 16, 4, 1; id. Fin. 2, 8, 23; Suet. Caes. 10; 39; id. Aug. 43; id. Calig. 18; 27; Inscr. Orell. 2556; 2559; v. Smith, Antiq.—
II Transf., that which is or has been hunted , game : cum miraremur, unde illi eo tempore anni tam multa et varia venatio, Liv. 35, 49, 6: capta venatio, id. 25, 9, 8: frequens ibi et varia, Plin. Ep. 5, 6, 8; Cels. 5, 26, 30; 5, 2, 20; 5, 2, 24; 5, 2, 26; Col. 9, praef. 1: septum venationis, a preserve or corer for game , a hunting-park , Varr. R. R. 3, 12, 2.