arma (noun N) : (
* Gen. plur. armūm, Pac. ap. Cic. Or. 46, 155; Att. ap. Non. p. 495, 23, considered by Cic. in the connection armūm judicium as less correct than armorum) [cf. ΑΡΩ, ἀραρίσκω = to fit; ἄρθρον = joint; ἁρμός = armus = joint, shoulder; ἀρτάω = artio, arto = to fit, to fit in closely; ἄρτιος = fit, exact; artus = close, narrow; ars (artis) = the craft of fitting things; artifex, artificium; Goth. arms = O. H. Germ. aram = Engl. arm; Sanscr. ar = to hit upon, attain; aram = fit, fast; īrmas = arm. Curt.].
* Lit.
* What is fitted to the body for its protection, defensive armor, as the shield, coat of mail, helmet, etc.: tot milia armorum, detracta corporibus hostium,Liv. 45, 39: induere arma,id. 30, 31: arma his imperata, galea, clipeum, ocreae, lorica, omnia ex aere,id. 1, 43: pictis et auro caelatis refulgens armis,id. 7, 10.
* Specifically, a shield: at Lausum socii exanimem super arma ferebant,on a shield,Verg. A. 10, 841: caelestia arma, quae ancilia appellantur,Liv. 1, 20 (v. ancile); id. 8, 30; 1, 37; cf. Verg. A. 1, 119 Heyne; Tac. G. 11 Rup.; Plin. Ep. 5, 6, 43: Aeneas se collegit in arma,gathered himself under his shield,Verg. A. 12, 491.—Hence, in a more extended sense
* Trop., means of protection, defence, weapons: tenere semper arma (sc. eloquentiae), quibus vel tectus ipse esse possis, vel, etc.,Cic. de Or. 1, 8, 32: prudentiae,id. ib. 1, 38, 172: senectutis,id. Lael. 4. 9: tectus Vulcaniis armis, id est fortitudine,id. Tusc. 2, 14, 33: eloquentiae,Quint. 5, 12, 21: facundiae,id. 2, 16, 10: justitiae,Vulg. Rom. 6, 13; ib. 2 Cor. 6, 7: arma lucis,ib. Rom. 13, 12: horriferum contra Borean ovis arma ministret, i. e. lanas,Ov. M. 15, 471: haec mihi Stertinius arma (i. e. praecepta) dedit,Hor. S. 2, 3, 297; cf. id. Ep. 1, 16, 67: arma militiae nostrae non carnalia sunt,Vulg. 2 Cor. 10, 4.
* War (once in opp. to pax, v.infra): silent leges inter arma,Cic. Mil. 4, 10; id. Att. 7, 3, 5: arma civilia,civil war,id. Fam. 2, 16, and Tac. A. 1, 9: civilia arma,id. Agr. 16; id. G. 37 (otherwise, bella civilia, Cic. Off. 1, 25, 86, and Tac. Agr. 13): ab externis armis otium erat,Liv. 3, 14; 9, 1; 3, 69 Drak.; 9, 32; 42, 2; Tac. H. 2, 1 al.: a Rubro Mari arma conatus sit inferre Italiae,Nep. Hann. 2, 1 (for which more freq. bellum inferre alicui, v. infero): ad horrida promptior arma,Ov. M. 1, 126: qui fera nuntiet arma,id. ib. 5, 4; 14, 479: compositis venerantur armis,Hor. C. 4, 14, 52. So the beginning of the Aeneid: Arma virumque cano; cf. Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 7: melius visum Gallos novam gentem pace potius cognosci quam armis,Liv. 5, 35 fin.; cf.: cedant arma togae,Cic. Off. 1, 22, 76.—Also for battle, contest: in arma feror,Verg. A. 2, 337; so id. ib. 2, 655.
* Transf., poet. (like ὅπλον and ἔντεα in Gr.), implements, instruments, tools, utensils, in gen. Of implements for grinding and baking: Cerealia arma,the arms of Ceres,Verg. A. 1, 177 (cf. Hom. Od. 7, 232: ἔντεα δαιτός). —Of implements of agriculture, Ov. M. 11, 35: dicendum est, quae sint duris agrestibus arma, Quīs sine nec potuere seri nec surgere messes,Verg. G. 1, 160.—Of the equipments, tackle of a ship (mast, sails, rudder, etc.): colligere arma jubet validisque incumbere remis,Verg. A. 5, 15; 6, 353.—Hence used by Ovid for wings: haec umeris arma parata suis, A. A. 2, 50 (cf. in the foll. verse: his patria est adeunda carinis).—And so of other instruments,Mart. 14, 36.

s. TLL