LAT
gemma
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Lewis Short
gemma (noun F) : cf. Gr. γέμω, to be full; Lat. gumia; lit. a fulness, swelling. The ancients supposed the original meaning to be a precious stone,Quint. 8, 6, 6; cf. Cic. Or. 24, 81; id. de Or. 3, 38, 155
* A bud, eye, or gem on a plant.
* Lit.: ineunte vere exsistit tamquam ad articulos sarmentorum ea, quae gemma dicitur,Cic. de Sen. 15, 53: (pampinus) trudit gemmas et frondes explicat omnes,Verg. G. 2, 335; jam laeto turgent in palmite gemmae,id. E. 7, 48; Col. 4, 29, 4.
* Transf. (from the resemblance to buds in shape and color), a precious stone, esp. one already cut, a jewel, gem, the predom. signif. of the word (opp. lapillus, one that is opaque, v. Dig. 34, 2, 19, § 17; cf. also: margarita, unio): nego in Sicilia tota ... ullam gemmam aut margaritam, quicquam ex auro aut ebore factum ... quin conquisierit, etc.,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 1, § 1: pocula ex auro gemmis distincta clarissimis,id. ib. 2, 4, 27, § 62: vas vinarium ex una gemma pergrandi,id. ib.: Cyri ornatus Persicus multo auro multisque gemmis,id. de Sen. 17, 59: gemmas sunt qui non habeant,Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 180: cum virides gemmas collo circumdedit (mulier),Juv. 6, 458: non gemmis venale,Hor. C. 2, 16, 7: vitrea,i. e. a false gem,Plin. 35, 6, 30, § 48; also called facticia,id. 37, 7, 26, § 98: nec premit articulos lucida gemma meos,Ov. H. 15, 74: nec sufferre queat majoris pondera gemmae,Juv. 1, 29: usus luxuriantis aetatis signaturas pretiosis gemmis coepit insculpere, Capitol. ap. Macr. S. 7, 13, 11; Vulg. Exod. 25, 7 et saep.
* Transf.
* Things made of precious stones.
* Trop., like gem in English, ornament, beauty (post-Aug. and very rare): multas in digitis, plures in carmine gemmas Invenies,Mart. 5, 11, 3: Hesperius gemma amicorum,Sid. Ep. 4, 22.
* A seal ring, signet: protinus impressā signat sua crimina gemmā,Ov. M. 9, 566; cf. Plin. 37, 1, 2, § 3; 37, 5, 20, § 78: arguit ipsorum quos littera gemmaque, Juv. 13, 138; 1, 68.—Hence, comically: Pl. Opsecro parentis ne meos mihi prohibeas? Cu. Quid? ego sub gemmane apstrussos habeo tuam matrem et patrem? i. e. under lock and key, Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 8.
* A pearl (poet.): legitur rubris gemma sub aequoribus. Prop. 1, 14, 12: cedet Erythraeis eruta gemma vadis,Mart. 8, 28, 14.
* The eyes of the peacock's tail: gemmis caudam stellantibus implet,Ov. M. 1, 723; cf.: gemmea cauda,Phaedr. 3, 18, 8).
* A bud, eye, or gem on a plant.
* Lit.: ineunte vere exsistit tamquam ad articulos sarmentorum ea, quae gemma dicitur,Cic. de Sen. 15, 53: (pampinus) trudit gemmas et frondes explicat omnes,Verg. G. 2, 335; jam laeto turgent in palmite gemmae,id. E. 7, 48; Col. 4, 29, 4.
* Transf. (from the resemblance to buds in shape and color), a precious stone, esp. one already cut, a jewel, gem, the predom. signif. of the word (opp. lapillus, one that is opaque, v. Dig. 34, 2, 19, § 17; cf. also: margarita, unio): nego in Sicilia tota ... ullam gemmam aut margaritam, quicquam ex auro aut ebore factum ... quin conquisierit, etc.,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 1, § 1: pocula ex auro gemmis distincta clarissimis,id. ib. 2, 4, 27, § 62: vas vinarium ex una gemma pergrandi,id. ib.: Cyri ornatus Persicus multo auro multisque gemmis,id. de Sen. 17, 59: gemmas sunt qui non habeant,Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 180: cum virides gemmas collo circumdedit (mulier),Juv. 6, 458: non gemmis venale,Hor. C. 2, 16, 7: vitrea,i. e. a false gem,Plin. 35, 6, 30, § 48; also called facticia,id. 37, 7, 26, § 98: nec premit articulos lucida gemma meos,Ov. H. 15, 74: nec sufferre queat majoris pondera gemmae,Juv. 1, 29: usus luxuriantis aetatis signaturas pretiosis gemmis coepit insculpere, Capitol. ap. Macr. S. 7, 13, 11; Vulg. Exod. 25, 7 et saep.
* Transf.
* Things made of precious stones.
* Trop., like gem in English, ornament, beauty (post-Aug. and very rare): multas in digitis, plures in carmine gemmas Invenies,Mart. 5, 11, 3: Hesperius gemma amicorum,Sid. Ep. 4, 22.
* A seal ring, signet: protinus impressā signat sua crimina gemmā,Ov. M. 9, 566; cf. Plin. 37, 1, 2, § 3; 37, 5, 20, § 78: arguit ipsorum quos littera gemmaque, Juv. 13, 138; 1, 68.—Hence, comically: Pl. Opsecro parentis ne meos mihi prohibeas? Cu. Quid? ego sub gemmane apstrussos habeo tuam matrem et patrem? i. e. under lock and key, Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 8.
* A pearl (poet.): legitur rubris gemma sub aequoribus. Prop. 1, 14, 12: cedet Erythraeis eruta gemma vadis,Mart. 8, 28, 14.
* The eyes of the peacock's tail: gemmis caudam stellantibus implet,Ov. M. 1, 723; cf.: gemmea cauda,Phaedr. 3, 18, 8).
Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary
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