Mătĭus, a, the name of a Roman gens. So, Cn. Matius, a poet and translator of the Iliad, Gell. 6, 6, 5; 9, 14, 14; Varr. L. L. 7, 5, 96 Müll.; perh. the same with C. Matius,
a friend of Cæsar and Cicero
, Cic. Fam. 6, 12, 2; 7, 15; 11, 28; Plin. 12, 2, 6, 13; Col. 12, 4, 2 al.—Hence, II. Mătĭā-nus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to a Matius, Matian: mala,