gramen

grāmen, ĭnis, n. [Sanscr. root gar-, to swallow; Gr. bor- in bibrôskô, bora; Lat. -vorus, in carnivorus, vorare, etc.; hence, fuller root gras-; Gr. grastis; Lat. grāmen for gras-men; cf. Germ. Gras; Engl. grass], grass (cf.: herba, faenum, cespes, glaeba).

(α).

Sing.:

prostrati in gramine molli,

Lucr. 2, 29; 5, 1392; Hor. Epod. 2, 24:

cervus graminis immemor,

id. C. 1, 15, 30:

aprici campi,

id. A. P. 162:

graminis herba,

a blade of grass, Verg. E. 5, 26; Liv. 1, 24, 5:

floreum,

flowery turf, Mart. 9, 91, 1:

generosum,

Juv. 12, 40:

quocumque de gramine (equus),

pasture, id. 8, 60.—

(β).

Plur.:

tondere gramina,

Lucr. 2, 660; Hor. C. 4, 7, 1; 4, 1, 39; Verg. E. 10, 29; id. G. 1, 56; 2, 200 et saep.—

II.

Transf., a plant, herb.

A.

In gen.:

ignobile cerinthae,

Verg. G. 4, 63:

Indum,

Indian aromatic herbs, Stat. S. 2, 1, 187; cf.:

Arabum de gramine odores,

Prop. 2, 29 (3, 27), 17; Quint. 5, 8, 1:

non illa feris incognita capris Gramina (i. e. dictamnus),

Verg. A. 12, 415:

neve parum valeant a se data gramina,

Ov. M. 7, 137 (for which:

accepit cantatas herbas,

id. ib. 7, 98 ).—

B.

In partic., dog's-grass, couch-grass, Plin. 24, 19, 118, § 178 sq.