saeptum

saeptum ( sēp- ), i, n. [id.] (class.; usu. plur.).

I.

Prop.

A.

In gen., a fence, en closure, wall, etc.; plur. absol.:

nunc de saeptis, quae tutandi causā fundi, aut partis fiant, dicam,

Varr. R. R. 1, 14, 1; cf.

the context: quibus enim saeptis tam immanes beluas continebimus?

Cic. Phil. 13, 3, 5:

saxea saepta,

id. ib. 4, 701:

saepta candentia,

Mart. Cap. 2, § 108:

nisi saeptis revolsis,

Cic. Phil. 5, 4, 9.—With gen.:

transit fulmen caeli per saepta domorum,

Lucr. 1, 490; cf. id. 6, 228; 6, 860.— Sing.:

AEDICVLAM, ARAM, SAEPTVM, CLVSVM, VETVSTATE DIRVTA RESTITVIT,

Inscr. Orell. 1515.—

B.

Esp.: Saeptum lini, a hunter's net or toils, Nemes. Cyneg. 308.—

II.

Meton.

A.

In gen., any enclosed place, an enclosure:

ut intra saepta (sc. villae) habeat aquam,

Varr. R. R. 1, 11, 2.—

2.

Esp.

a.

A fold for cattle:

quamvis multa meis exiret victima saeptis,

Verg. E. 1, 34:

saepta repetit pecus,

Col. 6, 23, 3.—

b.

A fish-pond or preserve:

animadvertimus intra saepta pelagios greges inertis mugilis,

Col. 8, 17, 8.—

c.

Plur., a large enclosed place in the Campus Martius, where the people assembled to vote, and where were many handsome shops:

cum ille in saepta irruisset,

Cic. Mil. 15, 41:

est (sc. dies) quoque, quo populum jus est includere saeptis,

Ov. F. 1, 53; cf. Mart. 9, 60, 1. —

d.

Saeptum venationis, a park, warren, preserve, enclosed hunting-ground, Varr. R. R. 3, 12, 2; cf. the context.—

B.

Any thing used for enclosing, etc.; hence,

1.

A palisade, stake, pale:

inermem tribunum adoriantur fragmentis saeptorum et fustibus,

Cic. Sest. 37, 79.—

2.

A sluice, flood-gate, Dig. 43, 21, 1, § 4.—

3.

Medic. t. t., the diaphragm, midriff:

jecur... ab ipso saepto orsum,

Cels. 4, 1; cf. id. 5, 26, 15; 7, 4, 2;

called also transversum saeptum,

id. 4, 1.