I.gen. plur. foedesum, acc. to Varr. L. L. 7, § 27; v. the letter R), n. from the root FID; Sanscr. bandh, ligare; v. fido, a league, treaty, compact (cf.: sponsio, pactio).
I. Polit.: “FOEDERVM, PACIS, BELLI, INDVCIARVM ORATORES FETIALES IVDICESVE SVNTO,” Cic. Leg. 2, 9, 21; cf. id. Rep. 1, 32: “esse autem tria genera foederum, quibus inter se paciscerentur amicitias civitates regesque,” Liv. 34, 57, 7: “pacem foedusque facere,” Cic. de Sen. 6, 16; cf.: “oratrices pacis et foederis,” id. Rep. 2, 8: “Ambiorigem sibi societate et foedere adjungunt,” Caes. B. G. 6, 2, 2: “ne societates, ne foedera nova acciperemus,” Sall. J. 14, 18: “societatem foedere confirmare,” Cic. Phil. 2, 35, 89: “quibus (foederibus) etiam cum hoste devincitur fides,” id. Off. 3, 31, 111: “amicitiam et foedus petere, Sall J. 104, 4: foedus facere cum aliquibus,” Cic. Inv. 2, 30, 91; so, “foedus facere,” id. Rep. 3, 18; Caes. B. C. 3, 108, 3; Sall. J. 38, 9 al.: ferire, icere, pangere, percutere, v. h. vv.: de foedere decedere, Cato ap. Gell. 10, 1, 10: “foedera negligere, violare, rumpere,” Cic. Balb. 5, 13; cf.: “sociorum nominisque Latini jura negligere ac foedera,” id. Rep. 3, 29: “rumpere,” Auct. Her. 4, 14, 20; Liv. 9, 1; 21, 10: “violare,” Cic. Rep. 1, 19; Liv. 28, 44, 7: “rescindere,” Vell. 2, 90, 3: “solvere,” Verg. A. 10, 91: “turbare,” id. ib. 12, 633: “contra foedus facere,” Cic. Balb. 4, 10; Gell. 10, 1, 10: “foedus aequum dare,” Liv. 23, 5, 9 (for which: “ex aequo venire in amicitiam,” id. 7, 30, 2); cf.: “foedere iniquo alligari,” id. 35, 46, 10: “ex foedere,” according to agreement, id. 1, 23, 7; 8, 39, 13. —
II. Transf., beyond the polit. sphere, in gen., a compact, covenant, agreement, stipulation, bargain: “foedus fecerunt cum tribuno plebis palam, ut ab eo provincias acciperent, quas ipsi vellent, etc.,” Cic. Sest. 10, 24; cf.: “foedus frangere,” id. Pis. 12, 28: “inter se facere,” id. Fin. 2, 26, 83: “amorum turpissimorum foedera ferire,” id. Cael. 14, 34: “amicitiae,” Ov. Tr. 3, 6, 1: “hospitii,” Just. 7, 3: “thalami,” i. e. marriage contract, marriage, Ov. M. 7, 403; so, “vitae,” Stat. Th. 2, 112: “communia studii,” Ov. P. 4, 13, 43.—
B. Poet., of inanim. and abstr. things, a law: “continuo has leges aeternaque foedera certis Inposuit natura locis,” Verg. G. 1, 60: “omnes Foedere naturae certo discrimina servant,” Lucr. 5, 924; 5, 57; 6, 906: “foedere certo et premere et laxas dare habenas,” Verg. A. 1, 62: “neve potentis naturae pollue foedus,” Ov. M. 10, 353: caeli foedera, Col. Poët. 10, 219.