Gemma, gemmæ, f. g. Cic.A yong budde of a vine.Vuida gemma in palmite.Virg.Pampinus trudit gemmas.Virg.The vine branch buddeth. Gemma.Plaut.A pretious stone.Coona insignis gemmis. Virg.Goodly veset with pretious slones.Patera grauis gÊmis.Virg.Garnished ful of pretious stones.Arden tes gemmæ. Claud. Glistening stones.Ignea gemma. Sil. Lucida gemma. Ouid.Magnetica gemma. Claud. Monstrificæ gemmæ. Plin. Perspicua gemma. Martial. Pura gemma.Ouid.Cleare without spot.Stellantes gemmæ.Ouid.Shining like stacres.Teres gemma.Virg. Virides gemmæ. Martial. Ensis accinctus gemmis.Val. Flac.Gemma bibere.Virg.To drincke in a cup made of a pretious stone.Pocula ex auro gemmis distincta clarisimis.Cic.Dat digitis gemmas.Ouid.He giueth hir rings with iewels to weare on hir singers.Fulgentes gemmæ.Val. Flac. Limare gemmas. Pli.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
gemma, ae, f. [cf. Gr. ge/mw, 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. I.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.—II.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. —2.Transf.a.Things made of precious stones.(a).A drinking-vessel, goblet or cup, made of a precious stone: nec bibit e gemma divite nostra sitis, Prop. 3, 5 (4, 4), 4; cf.: ut gemmā bibat, Verg. G. 2, 506: gemmā ministrare, Sen. Prov. 3 fin.; cf. also: in gemma posuere merum, Ov. M. 8, 572.— (b).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.—b.A pearl (poet.): legitur rubris gemma sub aequoribus. Prop. 1, 14, 12: cedet Erythraeis eruta gemma vadis, Mart. 8, 28, 14. —c.The eyes of the peacock's tail: gemmis caudam stellantibus implet, Ov. M. 1, 723; cf.: gemmea cauda, Phaedr. 3, 18, 8). —B.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.