I.gen. plur. moeniōrum for moenium, like anciliorum for ancilium, acc. to Cledon. p. 1898 P.; abl. plur. MOENIIS for moenibus, Inscr. Grut. 408, 1, 34; in sing. moene: moene singulariter dixit Ennius (al. Naevius), Paul. ex Fest. p. 145 Müll.), n. perh. Sanscr. root mū-, bind; Gr. ἀμύνω, μύνη; cf.: munus, immunis, munio, defensive walls, ramparts, bulwarks, city walls, as a means of protection and security.
I. Lit. (class.): “uti haberent tuta oppida quod operis muniebant, moenia dicta,” Varr. L. L. 5, § 141 Müll.: “domicilia conjuncta, quas urbes dicimus, moenibus sepserunt,” Cic. Sest. 42, 91: “diligentius urbem religione quam ipsis moenibus cingitis,” id. N. D. 3, 40, 94; id. Ac. 2, 44, 137; id. Rep. 1, 11, 17: “altissima,” Caes. B. C. 3, 80: “cum paene inaedificata in muris ab exercitu nostro moenia viderentur,” bulwarks, fortifications, id. ib. 2, 16: summa arcis, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 1, 4 (Ann. v. 170 Vahl.): “dividimus muros, et moenia pandimus urbis,” Verg. A. 2, 234.—
II. Transf.
A. Poet., in gen., walls, enclosure: “moenia navis,” Ov. M. 11, 532: “angusta theatri,” Lucr. 4, 82: mundi, id. 1, 73; cf. “caeli,” Ov. M. 2, 401.—
B. A city enclosed by walls, a walled town (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): nulla jam pernicies moenibus ipsis intra moenia comparabitur, to our walls, i. e. our city, Cic. Cat. 2, 1, 1: “moenia lata videt triplici circumdata muro,” Verg. A. 6, 549: “moenia circumdare muro,” Flor. 1, 4, 2; Vitr. 8, 4. —*
C. A mansion, dwelling: “Ditis magni,” Verg. A. 6, 541.
