Laurus, lauri, f. g. secundæ, & Laurus, huius laurus, quartæ declinationis. Plin. The Laurell or Bay tree dedicated to trinmphes and victories, and being Apollos tree is the reward of Poesie, and is neuer striken or blasted with lightning.Amantes carmina laurus.Stat.The bay trees louing verses and Poets, that thereof haue their garlands.Laurus Apollinea.Ouid.Dedicated to Apollo.Apollinaris. Horat. Pacifera. Plin. Casta. Tibul. Parnassia. Virg.Delphica. Horat. Procera. Catul. Fatidica laurus. Claud. Triumphalis. Ouid.Fragilis laurus.Virg. Victrices lauri. Tibul. Martialis. Claud. Viridis. Virg.Nitidissima.Plin. iun. Viridans. Virg.Crinem innectere lauro.Ouid.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
laurus, i (gen. laurūs, Plin. 15, 30, 39, 132; 14, 16, 19, 112; Col. 6, 7, 3codd.; abl. lauru, Hor. C. 2, 7, 19; but lauro, id. ib. 3, 30, 16; nom. plur. laurus, Verg. A. 3, 91; acc. plur. laurus, id. E. 6, 83 al.; Tib. 2, 5, 63; gen. plur. lauruum, acc. to Charis. p. 110 P.), f. [cf. Germ. lor- in Lorbeere], a bay-tree, laurel-tree, laurel, sacred to Apollo; cf.: aliquid cedo Qui vicini hanc nostram augeam aram Apollinis. Da sane hanc virgam lauri, Plaut. Merc. 4, 1, 11; it grew in greatest beauty on Parnassus, and hence is called Parnasia laurus, Verg. G. 2, 18; its branches were the decoration of poets, Hor. C. 4, 2, 9; of the flamens, Liv. 23, 11; Ov. F. 3, 137. In festivals, the ancestral images were decorated with laurel, Cic. Mur. 41. The leaves, when eaten, were said to impart the power of prophesying, Tib. 2, 5, 63; Juv. 7, 19. Victorious generals, in triumphal processions, wore laurel crowns on their heads and carried laurel branches in their hands, while their lictors bore fasces bound with laurel, Cic. Att. 7, 10; Ov. M. 1, 560. Before the gate of the imperial palace stood two laurel-trees, with oaken crowns, in honor of the emperor, as the vanquisher of foes and the people's preserver: janitrix Caesarum et pontificum, Plin. 15, 30, 39, 127 sqq.; Tert. Apol. 35. A wet branch of laurel was used in lustrations, to sprinkle the objects to be purified: cuperent lustrari ... si foret umida laurus, Juv. 2, 158; cf. Dict. Antiq. s. v. lustratio.—II.Meton. for laurea, a laurel crown, as the sign of a triumph; hence for triumph, victory: incurrit haec nostra laurus non solum in oculos, sed, etc., Cic. Fam. 2, 16, 2: Parthica, Plin. Pan. 14: Indica, Stat. S. 4, 1, 4: Sarmatica, Mart. 7, 6, 10: ornari lauro secunda, Juv. 8, 253.