ansa

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.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

ānsa,¹² æ, f., anse, poignée, prise : Virg. B. 3, 45 ; Ov. M. 8, 653 || attache d’une chaussure : Tib. 1, 8, 14 ; Plin. 35, 85 || [fig.] occasion : ad aliquid ansas dare Cic. Læl. 59, fournir l’occasion, donner le moyen de faire qqch. ; si locus habet reprehensionis ansam aliquam Cic. Planc. 84, si c’est le pays qui prête qq. peu le flanc à la critique.