bellatrix

bellātrix, īcis, f. [id.], a female warrior; freq. in close apposition, and taking the place of an adj. (cf. bellator, II.), warlike, skilled in war, serviceable in war (mostly poet. ).

I.

Lit.:

Penthesilea,

Verg. A. 1, 493:

diva,

i. e. Pallas, Ov. Tr. 1, 5, 76:

Minerva,

id. M. 8, 264:

Roma,

id. Tr. 2, 321:

Hispania,

Flor. 2, 6, 38:

cohors,

Stat. Th. 6, 262:

belua,

i. e. the elephant, Sil. 9, 576.—

B.

Transf., of inanim. things:

carinae,

Stat. Th. 7, 57:

glaeba,

i. e. producing warriors, Val. Fl. 7, 612:

pompa,

Claud. III. Cons. Hon. 2: aquilae, ensigns, standards, id. Nupt. Hon. et Mar. 193.—

II.

Trop.: ista bellatrix iracundia, this warlike rage, * Cic. Tusc. 4, 24, 54; cf.

ira,

Claud. in Rufin. 2, 118.