adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective
bivius1
bivius (feminine bivia, neuter bivium, adverb biviē)
Classical[ˈbɪ.wi.ʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈbiː.vi.us]
Meaning
- adjectivetwo-way
- adjectivehaving two approaches
Declension
| form | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | bivius | bivia | bivium |
| genitive | biviī | biviae biviāī | biviī |
| dative | biviō | biviae biviāī | biviō |
| accusative | bivium | biviam | bivium |
| ablative | biviō | biviā | biviō |
| vocative | bivie | bivia | bivium |
| form | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | biviī | biviae biviāī | bivia |
| genitive | biviōrum | biviārum | biviōrum |
| dative | biviīs | biviīs | biviīs |
| accusative | biviōs | biviās | bivia |
| ablative | biviīs | biviīs | biviīs |
| vocative | biviī | biviae biviāī | bivia |
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- Hercules in trivio, in bivio, in compitis
- Hercules at the cross-roads, between virtue and vice.
bĭvĭus, a, um, adj. bis-via,
I. having two ways or passages (rare;
not in Cic.): fauces, Verg. A. 11, 516.—So, calles, Val. Fl. 5, 395: di, deae, worshipped at cross-roads, Inscr. Orell. 2105.—Hence, substt. A. bĭvĭi (sc. di), Inscr. Orell. 389; 2104.—
B. bĭvĭum, i, n., a place with two ways, or where two ways meet.
1. Lit.:
in bivio portae, Verg. A. 9, 238: ad bivia consistere, Liv. 38, 45, 8; Plin. 6, 28, 32, § 144; Vulg. Marc. 11, 4.— 2. Trop.: bivium nobis ad culturam dedit natura, experientiam et imitationem, a twofold means or method, Varr. R. R. 1, 18, 7.—Of a twofold love, Ov. R. Am. 486.
Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
bivius adj.
bi-+via, of two ways, having two approaches: fauces, V.—As subst n., a place where two roads meet: portae, the fork at the gate, V.: ad bivia consistere, L.
Origins
From bi- (“two”) + via (“road; way”) + -ius. The noun comes from ellipsis of bivius deus (literally “crossroad god”).