I.the workshop of an artisan who works in hard materials (syn.: taberna, officina).
I. Prop., Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 45; 4, 6, 4: “Vulcanus, qui Lemni fabricae traditur praefuisse,” Cic. N. D. 3, 22, 55: “armorum,” armory, Veg. Mil. 2, 11 (for which: “armorum officinae,” Caes. B. C. 1, 34 fin.).—
II. Transf., the art, trade, or profession of such an artisan, Vitr. 1, 1: “pictura et fabrica ceteraeque artes habent quendam absoluti operis effectum,” architecture, Cic. N. D. 2, 13, 35; cf. id. Div. 1, 51, 161; and: “natura effectum esse mundum: nihil opus fuisse fabrica,” id. ib. 1, 20, 53: “omnis fabrica aeris et ferri,” id. N. D. 2, 60, 150: aeraria, ferrea, materiaria, the art of working in brass, etc., Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 197 sq.; cf.: “aerariae artis,” Just. 36, 4, 4; and: ejus fabricae, quam Graeci χαλκευτικὴν vocant, Quint. 2, 21, 10.—In apposition with ars: “abies Graeco fabricae artis genere spectabilis,” Plin. 16, 42, 82, § 225: “servus arte fabrica peritus,” Dig. 33, 7, 19 fin.: “fanum solerti fabrica structum,” with artistic skill, App. M. 6, p. 174, 25.—
2. In gen., any skilful production, a fabric, building, etc.: admirabilis membrorum animantium, Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 121; cf. id. Off. 1, 35, 127; Pall. 1, 7, 4; 1, 9, 2 al.—Of man as the creature of God, Prud. Hymn. de Rad. Dom. 45. —
b. In the comic writers, a crafty device, trick, stratagem: “ei nos facetis fabricis et doctis dolis Glaucumam ob oculos obiciemus,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 1, 69; id. Cist. 2, 2, 5: “nescio quam fabricam facit,” id. Ep. 5, 2, 25; id. Bacch. 2, 3, 132: “ad senem fingere,” Ter. Heaut. 3, 2, 34 al.
