noun

nēnĭa

gen. nēniae · gender feminine · decl. 1st

(), (abl. neniā, dissyl., Ov. F. 6, 142)

a funeral song, song of lamentation, dirge •

a funeral song, song of lamentation, dirge: naenia est carmen quod in funere laudandi gratiā cantatur ad tibiam, Paul. ex Fest. p. 161 Müll.; cf. Macr. Somn. Scip. 2, 3; Diom. p. 482 P.: honoratorum virorum laudes cantu ad tibicinem prosequantur, cui nomen nenia, Cic. Leg. 2, 24, 62: absint inani funere neniae, Hor. C. 2, 20, 21; Suet. Aug. 100.—

by extension

A mournful song; ditty; has sung the death-dirge over his property •

A mournful song or ditty of any kind: Ceae retractes munera neniae, Hor. C. 2, 1, 38: huic homini amanti mea era dixit neniam de bonis, has sung the death-dirge over his property, i. e. has buried, has consumed it, Plaut. Truc. 2, 1, 3.—Prov.: nenia ludo id fuit, my joy was turned to grief, Plaut. Ps. 5, 1, 32.—

A magic song, incantation •

A magic song, incantation: Marsa, Hor. Epod. 17, 29.—

A common, trifling song, popular song; a nursery song, lullaby; a song ••

A common, trifling song, popular song; a nursery song, lullaby; a song in gen.: puerorum Nenia, quae regnum recte facientibus offert, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 62: dicetur meritā Nox quoque neniā, id. C. 3, 28, 16: legesne potius viles nenias? mere songs, Phaedr. 3 prol. 10: lenes neniae, lullabies, Arn. 7, 237: histrionis, id. 6, 197.—

the cry of the shrewmouse when caught and pierced through

Nenia soricina, the cry of the shrewmouse when caught and pierced through, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 8, 48.—

the goddess of funeral songs, the dirge-goddess

Personified: Nēnia, the goddess of funeral songs, the dirge-goddess, to whom a chapel was dedicated before the Viminal gate, Arn. 4, 131; Aug. Civ. Dei, 6, 9.

Perseus ID: n30725 Key: nenia