saeptum

I. Prop.

A. In gen., a fence, en closure, wall, etc.; plur. absol.: nunc de saeptis, quae tutandi causā fundi, aut partis fiant, dicam, Varr. R. R. 1, 14, 1; cf. the context: quibus enim saeptis tam immanes beluas continebimus? Cic. Phil. 13, 3, 5: saxea saepta, id. ib. 4, 701: saepta candentia, Mart. Cap. 2, § 108: nisi saeptis revolsis, Cic. Phil. 5, 4, 9.—With gen.: transit fulmen caeli per saepta domorum, Lucr. 1, 490; cf. id. 6, 228; 6, 860.—Sing.: AEDICVLAM, ARAM, SAEPTVM, CLVSVM, VETVSTATE DIRVTA RESTITVIT, Inscr. Orell. 1515.—

B. Esp.: Saeptum lini, a hunter's net or toils, Nemes. Cyneg. 308.—

II. Meton.

A. In gen., any enclosed place, an enclosure: ut intra saepta (sc. villae) habeat aquam, Varr. R. R. 1, 11, 2.—

2. Esp.

a. A fold for cattle: quamvis multa meis exiret victima saeptis, Verg. E. 1, 34: saepta repetit pecus, Col. 6, 23, 3.—

b. A fish-pond or preserve: animadvertimus intra saepta pelagios greges inertis mugilis, Col. 8, 17, 8.—

c. Plur., a large enclosed place in the Campus Martius, where the people assembled to vote, and where were many handsome shops: cum ille in saepta irruisset, Cic. Mil. 15, 41: est (sc. dies) quoque, quo populum jus est includere saeptis, Ov. F. 1, 53; cf. Mart. 9, 60, 1. —

d. Saeptum venationis, a park, warren, preserve, enclosed hunting-ground, Varr. R. R. 3, 12, 2; cf. the context.—

B. Any thing used for enclosing, etc.; hence,

1. A palisade, stake, pale: inermem tribunum adoriantur fragmentis saeptorum et fustibus, Cic. Sest. 37, 79.—

2. A sluice, flood-gate, Dig. 43, 21, 1, § 4.—

3. Medic. t. t., the diaphragm, midriff: jecur ... ab ipso saepto orsum, Cels. 4, 1; cf. id. 5, 26, 15; 7, 4, 2; called also transversum saeptum, id. 4, 1.