Lemma, lémmatis, pen. cor. n. g. Mart. An argument: a reason.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
lemma, ătis, n., = lh=mma, a subject for consideration or explanation, a theme, matter, subject, contents (not ante-Aug.; in Cic. only written as Greek). I.Lit.: lemma sibi sumpsit, quod ego interdum versibus ludo, Plin. Ep. 4, 27, 3.—II.Transf.A.The title of an epigram, because it indicates the subject: lemmata si quaeris, cur sint ascripta, docebo: Ut si malueris lemmata sola legas, Mart. 14, 2, 1; Aus. Parent. praef.—B.The epigram itself: si mihi ex hoc ipso lemmate secundus versus occurrerit, Plin. Ep. 4, 27, 3: consumpta est uno si lemmate pagina, transis, Mart. 10, 59, 1.— C.A story, tale: nutricis lemmata,
nursery-tales
, Aus. Ep. 16, 90.—D.The assumption or lemma of a syllogism: est vitium insidiosum et sub falsa lemmatis specie latens, Gell. 9, 16, 7; v. sumptio.