proper noun · masculinesecond declension
Naevius1
Naevius m sg (genitive Naeviī or Naevī)
Classical[ˈnae̯.wi.ʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈnɛː.vi.us]
Meaning
- masculinesingularThe name of a Roman gens, whose most celebrated member is
- masculinesingularGnaeus Naevius (circa 270–circa 201 BC), Roman epic and dramatic poet
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | Naevius | — |
| genitive | Naeviī Naevī | — |
| dative | Naeviō | — |
| accusative | Naevium | — |
| ablative | Naeviō | — |
| vocative | Naevī | — |
Naevĭus, a naevus; hence, prop., one born with a mole or birth-mark,
I. name of a Roman gens. The most celebrated member of it is Cn. Naevius, a Roman epic and dramatic poet, born A. U. C. 480. He made the first Punic war, in which he had served, the subject of a poem, in which he so boldly satirized the nobility, especially the Metelli, that he was forced into exile at Utica, where he died, A. U. C. 550, Cic. Brut. 15, 60; id. Tusc. 1, 1, 3; Gell. 1, 24, 2; 17, 21, 45.—Hence,
A. Naevĭus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to a Nævius, Nœvian:
porta Naevia, Liv. 2, 11; cf. Varr. L. L. 5, § 163 Müll.: Naevia silva dicta juxta Romam, quod Naevi cujusdam fuerit, Paul. ex Fest. p. 168 ib.: Naevia olea, Col. 12, 48.—B. Naevĭānus, a, um, adj., Nævian; i. e.,
1. Of or belonging to the poel Nævius:
Hector, Cic. Fam. 5, 12: scripta, id. Brut. 15: modi, id. Leg. 2, 15.—Origins
Substantivisation and use as a proper noun of the adjective naevius (“that has a mole on his body”), from naevus (“birthmark”, “mole”) + -ius; the adjective Naevius is derived from the proper noun.