View source for alea

{{Lewis
|lshtext=<b>ālĕa</b>: ae, f. of uncer. [[origin]]; [[Curtius]] asserts an [[obscure]] [[connection]] [[with]] the words for [[bone]]; Sanscr. asthi; Zend, açti; Gr. [[ὀστέον]]; Lat. os (ossis).<br /><b>I</b> A [[game]] [[with]] [[dice]], and in gen., a [[game]] of [[hazard]] or [[chance]]. There were [[among]] the Romans [[two]] kinds of [[dice]], tesserae and tali, Cic. Sen. 16, 58. The tesserae had [[six]] sides, [[which]] were marked [[with]] I. II. III. IV. V. VI.; the tali were [[rounded]] on [[two]] sides, and marked [[only]] on the [[other]] [[four]]. Upon one [[side]] [[there]] [[was]] one [[point]], [[unio]], an [[ace]], [[like]] the [[ace]] on cards, called [[canis]]; on the opp. [[side]], [[six]] points called [[senio]], [[six]], sice; on the [[two]] [[other]] sides, [[three]] and [[four]] points, [[ternio]] and [[quaternio]]. In playing, [[four]] tali were used, [[but]] [[only]] [[three]] tesserae. They were [[put]] [[into]] a [[box]] made in the form of a [[tower]], [[with]] a [[strait]] [[neck]], and wider [[below]] [[than]] [[above]], called [[fritillus]], [[turris]], [[turricula]], etc. This [[box]] [[was]] shaken, and the [[dice]] were thrown [[upon]] the gaming-[[board]]. The [[highest]] or [[most]] [[fortunate]] [[throw]], called [[Venus]], jactus [[Venereus]] or [[basilicus]], [[was]], of the tesserae, [[three]] sixes, and of the tali [[when]] [[they]] all came [[out]] [[with]] [[different]] numbers. The [[worst]] or lowest [[throw]], called jactus [[pessimus]] or [[damnosus]], [[canis]] or [[canicula]], [[was]], of the tesserae, [[three]] aces, and of the tali [[when]] [[they]] were all the [[same]]. The [[other]] throws were [[valued]] acc. to the numbers. When one of the tali [[fell]] [[upon]] the [[end]] (in [[caput]]) it [[was]] said [[rectus]] cadere, or assistere, Cic. Fin. 3, 16, 54, and the [[throw]] [[was]] [[repeated]]. While throwing the [[dice]], it [[was]] [[customary]] for a [[person]] to [[express]] his wishes, to [[repeat]] the [[name]] of his [[mistress]], and the [[like]]. Games of [[chance]] were [[prohibited]] by the Lex Titia et Publicia et [[Cornelia]] (cf. Hor. C. 3, 24, 58), [[except]] in the [[month]] of [[December]], [[during]] the [[Saturnalia]], Mart. 4, 14, 7; 5, 85; 14, 1; Suet. Aug. 71; Dig. 11, 5. The [[character]] of gamesters, aleatores or aleones, [[was]] held as [[infamous]] in the [[time]] of [[Cicero]], cf. Cic. Cat. 2, 5, 10; id. Phil. 2, 23, [[although]] [[there]] [[was]] [[much]] playing [[with]] aleae, and old men were esp. [[fond]] of this [[game]], [[because]] it required [[little]] [[physical]] [[exertion]], Cic. Sen. 16, 58; Suet. Aug. 71; Juv. 14, 4; cf. Jahn, Ov. Tr. 2, 471; Rupert. ad Tac. G. 24, 5: provocat me in aleam, ut ego ludam, Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 75.—Ludere aleā or aleam, also [[sometimes]] in aleā: in [[foro]] aleā ludere, Cic. Phil. 2, 23, 56; Dig. 11, 5, 1: ludit [[assidue]] aleam, Poët. ap. Suet. Aug. 70: aleam studiosissime lusit, Suet. Claud. 33; so id. Ner. 30; Juv. 8, 10: [[repetitio]] ejus, [[quod]] in aleā lusum est, Dig. 11, 5, 4.—Hence, in aleā aliquid perdere, Cic. Phil. 2, 13: exercere aleam, Tac. G. 24: indulgere aleae, Suet. Aug. 70: oblectare se aleā, id. Dom. 21: prosperiore aleā uti, to [[play]] [[fortunately]], id. Calig. 41.—Trop.: Jacta [[alea]] esto, Let the [[die]] be [[cast]]! Let the [[game]] be ventured! the [[memorable]] [[exclamation]] of Cæsar [[when]], at the [[Rubicon]], [[after]] [[long]] [[hesitation]], he [[finally]] [[decided]] to [[march]] to [[Rome]], Suet. Caes. 32, ubi v. Casaub. and Ruhnk.—<br /><b>II</b> Transf., [[any]] [[thing]] [[uncertain]] or [[contingent]], an [[accident]], [[chance]], [[hazard]], [[venture]], [[risk]]: [[alea]] domini vitae ac rei [[familiaris]], Varr. R. R. 1, 4: sequentes non aleam, sed rationem [[aliquam]], id. ib. 1, 18: aleam inesse hostiis deligendis, Cic. Div. 2, 15: [[dare]] summam rerum in aleam, to [[risk]], Liv. 42, 59: in dubiam imperii servitiique aleam [[ire]], [[fortune]], [[chance]], id. 1, 23: [[alea]] belli, id. 37, 36: talibus admissis [[alea]] [[grandis]] inest, Ov. A. A. 1, 376: periculosae plenum [[opus]] aleae, Hor. C. 2, 1, 6: M. [[Tullius]] [[extra]] omnem ingenii aleam [[positus]], [[raised]] [[above]] all [[doubt]] of his talents, Plin. praef. § 7: [[emere]] aleam, in the Pandects, to [[purchase]] [[any]] [[thing]] [[uncertain]], [[contingent]], e. g. a [[draught]] of fishes, Dig. 18, 1, 8; so ib. 18, 4, 7.
}}