ŏvis (noun F.m) : (acc. ovim, Plaut. Merc. 3, 1, 26; al. ovem; abl. ovi, acc. to Varr. L. L. 8, § 66 Müll.), f. (m., Varr. ap. Non. 216, 23:
* Ovis mas,Varr. L. L. 5, 98; cf.: ovis semimas,Ov. F. 1, 588; cf. Fest. p. 195 Müll.) [kindr. with Sanscr. avi, ovis; Lith. awi-s; Slav. ovjza; Gr. ὄϊς; cf. also Goth. avistr, ovile], a sheep (class.).
* Lit.: oves scabrae, glabrae,Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 140: cum fervit maxime, tam placidum quasi ovem reddo,Ter. Ad. 4, 1, 18; Cic. N. D. 2, 63, 158: multae dictione ovium et boum,id. Rep. 2, 9, 16: ovis bona,Plaut. Bacch. 5, 2, 11: aurata,Ov. H. 6, 2: infirmae,Hor. Epod. 2, 10: lanigera,Verg. A. 3, 660: Milesiae,Col. 7, 2, 3: nigra,Verg. G. 4, 546: pinguis,id. E. 6, 5: placida,Ov. M. 13, 927: custos ovium,Verg. G. 1, 17: magistri ovium,id. E. 2, 33: tondere oves,Hor. Ep. 2, 10.— Prov.: ovem lupo committere,to appoint the wolf shepherd,Ter. Eun. 5, 1, 16; cf.: O praeclarum custodem ovium, ut ajunt, lupum,Cic. Phil. 3, 11, 27.
* Transf.
* Poet., wool: et niveam Tyrio murice tingit ovem,Tib. 2, 4, 28.
* Sheep, for simpleton, ninny, fool, Plaut. Bacch. 5, 2, 3, q. v. 15.

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