rixa

rixa, ae, f. [perh. root rig, whence ringor; the suffix -sa like noxa from noc-eo; hence, prop., the wide opening of the mouth].

I.

A quarrel, brawl, dispute, contest, strife, contention (class.; esp. freq. after the Aug. period;

syn.: contentio, altercatio, disceptatio, jurgium): ecce nova turba atque rixa,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 66, § 148:

rixa ac prope proelium fuit,

Liv. 2, 18:

rixa sedata est,

id. 2, 29:

in rixā esse,

id. 40, 14:

in rixam ire,

Quint. 6, 4, 13:

sive geris jocos Seu rixam et insanos amores,

Hor. C. 3, 21, 3:

rixa super mero Debellata,

id. ib. 1, 18, 8:

Academiae nostrae cum Zenone magna rixa est,

Cic. Fam. 9, 22, 1:

pietatis rixa,

Mart. 1, 37, 3:

jurgia primum, mox rixa,

Tac. H. 1, 64.— Plur.:

corrupta jurgiis aut rixis disciplina,

Tac. H. 2, 27 fin.:

crebrae,

id. G. 22:

sanguineae,

Hor. C. 1, 27, 4:

immodicae,

id. ib. 1, 13, 10.—Prov.: a lasso rixam quaeri, v. lassus.—

II.

In gen., a battle, contest (very rare):

major cum Oceano quam cum ipsis navibus rixa,

Flor. 3, 10, 5. —

Of beasts: deque tuo fiet... Insatiabilibus corpore rixa lupis,

Ov. Ib. 170; Col. 9, 15, 4; Plin. 11, 17, 18, § 58.