templum (noun N) : prob. for temulum; root τεμ- of τέμνω; cf. τέμενος, a sacred enclosure; hence
* Lit., a space marked out; hence, in partic., in augury, an open place for observation, marked out by the augur with his staff: templum dicitur locus manu auguris designatus in aëre, post quem factum ilico captantur auguria,Serv. Verg. A. 1, 92: dictum templum locus augurii aut auspicii causā quibusdam conceptis verbis finitus. Concipitur verbis non isdem usquequaquae. In Arce sic: templa tescaque me ita sunto quoad ego caste lingua nuncupavero. Olla veter arbor, quirquir est, quam me sentio dixisse, templum tescumque finito in sinistrum, etc. ... In hoc templo faciundo arbores constitui fines apparet,Varr. L. L. 7, § 6 sq. Müll.: Palatium Romulus, Remus Aventinum ad inaugurandum templa capiunt,Liv. 1, 6, 4.
* Transf., with the idea of openness, extent, or that of sanctity predominating.
* A small timber; in architecture, a purlin lying horizontally upon the rafters, Vitr. 4, 2 and 7; cf.: templum significat et tignum, quod in aedificio transversum ponitur,Fest. p. 367 Müll.
* A consecrated or sacred place, a sanctuary (syn.: aedes, fanum).
* In gen.: (sacerdotes) urbem et agros et templa liberata et effata habento,Cic. Leg. 2, 8, 21; cf.: hinc effari templa dicuntur ab auguribus,Varr. L. L. 6, § 53 Müll.—Of the Rostra: in Rostris, in illo inquam inaugurato templo ac loco,Cic. Vatin. 10, 24; cf.: rostraque id templum appellatum,Liv. 8, 14, 12; Cic. Sest. 29, 62; Liv. 2, 56, 10; 3, 17, 1; 8, 35, 8 Drak.—Of the Curia: templum ordini ab se aucto Curiam fecit,Liv. 1, 30, 2; 26, 31, 11; 26, 33, 4.—Of a tribunal, Liv. 23, 10 Drak.; Flor. 2, 12, 11. —Of an asylum, Liv. 2, 1, 4.
* Trop., a sanctuary, shrine: pectus templaque mentis,Lucr. 5, 103; cf.: (curia) templum sanctitatis, amplitudinis, mentis, consilii publici,Cic. Mil. 33, 90.
* In partic., a place dedicated to some particular deity, a fane, temple, shrine: Herculis,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 94: Jovis,id. Fam. 10, 12, 4: Junonis Sospitae,id. Div. 1, 2, 4; cf. id. ib. 1, 44, 99; Verg. A. 1, 446: Virtutis,Cic. Rep. 1, 14, 21: Vestae,Hor. C. 1, 2, 16: Minervae,Verg. A. 6, 840: antiqua deorum,Hor. S. 2, 2, 104: donec templa refeceris,id. C. 3, 6, 2: testudo amica templis,id. ib. 3, 11, 6: templorum positor, templorum sancte repostor,Ov. F. 2, 63.—Of the sepulchral monument of Sychaeus, to whom divine honors were paid, Verg. A. 4, 457; cf. Sil. 1, 84.