ansa
κάμψαι διαύλου θάτερον κῶλον πάλιν → bend back along the second turn of the race, turning the bend and coming back for the second leg of the double run, run the homeward course, retrace one's steps
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
ansa: ae, f. cf. χανδάνω>, and pre-hendo, pre-hensum, and λαβή> from λαβεῖν>,
I that by which something is taken hold of, a handle, haft; of a vessel, pitcher, vase, and the like.
I Lit., Cato, R. R. 113; Verg. E. 3, 45; 6, 17; Ov. M. 8, 653; id. H. 16, 252; Mart. 14, 106 al.—Of other things, e. g. of an iron handle of a door: ansa ostii, Petr. 96.—Of the loop on the edge of a sandal, through which the shoetie was drawn, Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 12; so Tib. 1, 8, 14.—Of the handle of the rudder, the tiller, Vitr. 10, 8.—Of the cheeks of a balance in which the lever moves, Vitr. 10, 8.— In architecture, the cramp-iron or brace which holds several stones together, Vitr. 2, 8; Prop. 5, 1, 142.—
II Trop., as also the Gr. λαβή>, handle, occasion, opportunity (rare, and in the class. per. only in Cic.): illum quaerere ansam, infectum ut faciat? Plaut. Pers. 4, 4, 119: reprehensionis ansa, Cic. Planc. 34: controversiarum, id. Caecin. 6 fin.: ansas sermonis dare, id. Sest. 10: sibi tamquam ansas ad reprehendendum dare, id. Am. 16, 59: alicui lucrandi ansam offerre, Amm. 28, 1.
