caenum

caenum (less correctly coenum ), i, n. [cunio], dirt, filth, mud, mire (always with access. idea of loathsomeness, diff. from limus, lutum, etc.:

omnes stultos insanire, ut male olere omne caenum,

Cic. Tusc. 4, 24, 54; freq. and class. in prose and poetry);

prop.: pulchrum ornatum turpes mores pejus caeno collinunt,

Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 133; cf. id. Poen. 1, 2, 93; 4, 2, 4; Cic. Att. 2, 21, 4; id. Verr. 2, 5, 68, § 173; Lucr. 6, 977; Verg. G. 4, 49; id. A. 6, 296; Ov. M. 1, 418; * Hor. S. 2, 7, 27; Curt. 3, 13, 11; 4, 3, 25; Tac. A. 1, 73; *Suet. Vit. 17:

cloacarum,

Col. 2, 15, 6; 7, 4, 6; Plin. 31, 6, 32, § 61; Stat. Th. 9, 502; Paul. Sent. 5, 4, 13.— Prov.: mordicus petere e caeno cibum, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 138, 22.—

II.

Trop., filth, dirt, uncleanness:

ut eum ex lutulento caeno propere hinc eliciat foras (sc. ex amore meretricum),

Plaut. Bacch. 3, 1, 17:

in tenebris volvi caenoque,

Lucr. 3, 77; cf.:

ex caeno plebeio consulatum extrahere,

Liv. 10, 15, 9.—Also as a term of reproach, dirty fellow, vile fellow, Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 3; id. Ps. 1, 3, 132; Cic. Sest. 8, 20; id. Dom. 18, 47.