(adjective) : carnĭfex or carnŭfex, fĭcis, m. v. caro-facio
* An executioner, hangman, Plaut Bacch. 4, 4, 37; id. Capt. 5, 4, 22; id. Rud. 3, 6, 19; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 45, § 118; id. Phil. 11, 3, 7; id. Quint. 15, 50; id. Rab. Perd. 4, 12; Quint. 5, 10, 59; Lucr. 3, 1017; Cat. 97, 12; Juv. 8, 175 al.; this office was considered so disgraceful that he was not permitted to live in the city, Cic. Rab. Perd. 4 sq.; but in the Subura, Mart. 2, 17, 1 sqq.
* As a term of reproach, scoundrel, villain, rascal, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 220; 2, 1, 41; Ter. And. 1, 2, 12; id. Eun. 4, 4, 3; Cic. Pis. 5, 11.
* Trop., tormenter, murderer, Ter. And. 4, 1, 27 Don.; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 9; Liv. 2, 35, 1; 2, 56, 8; 2, 42, 23 fin.: Fortuna gloriae carnifex,murderer, destroyer of fame,Plin. 28, 4, 7, § 39. —Poet., , murderous, killing: carnifex avis,Mart. 11, 84, 10: pedes (sc. podagrici),id. 12, 48, 10: manus,Sil. 1, 173: epulae,deadly,Claud. B. Gild. 178: libido,Arn. 1, 41.

s. TLL