Orcus

Orcus, i, m. [kindr. with herkos and the Lat. urgeo:

Orcum quem dicimus, ait Verrius ab antiquis dictum uragum,

Fest. p. 202 Müll.—Hence, prop., that which impels, constrains, confines]. the Lower World, the abode of the dead, Orcus: Acherunsia templa alta Orci, salvete infera, Enn. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 6 Müll. (Trag. v. 107 Vahl.); Lucr. 1, 115; 6, 762:

Minos sedet arbiter Orci,

Prop. 4, 18, 27; Verg. A. 6, 273. —

II.

Transf.

A.

The god of the infernal regions, Orcus, Pluto:

Orcus recipere ad se hanc noluit,

Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 6:

bene vale, apud Orcum te videbo,

id. As. 3, 3, 16:

ut Verres alter Orcus, venisse Ennam, etc.,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 50, § 111:

pallidus,

Verg. G. 1, 277.—

B.

Death (mostly poet. ):

horriferis accibant vocibus Orcum,

Lucr. 5, 996; Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 178:

Orcum morari,

to hesitate to die, id. C. 3, 27, 50:

rapacis Orci fine destinatā,

id. ib. 2, 18, 30: cum Orco rationem habere, to risk one's life, Varr. R. [p. 1277] R. 1, 4:

janua haec Orci,

Plaut. Bacch. 3, 1, 1.