serperastra
From LSJ
νεκρὸν ἐάν ποτ' ἴδηις καὶ μνήματα κωφὰ παράγηις κοινὸν ἔσοπτρον ὁρᾶις· ὁ θανὼν οὕτως προσεδόκα → whenever you see a body dead, or pass by silent tombs, you look into the mirror of all men's destiny: the dead man expected nothing else | if you ever see a corpse or walk by quiet graves, that's when you look into the mirror we all share: the dead expected this
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
serpĕrastra: (serpĭr-), ōrum, n. perh. from serpo - rastrum, creepingsplints,
I knee-splints or knee-bandages for straightening the crooked legs of children. *
I Lit.: pueris in geniculis alligare, Varr. L. L. 9, § 11 Müll.—*
II Transf., humorously of officers, who hold the soldiers in check: de serperastris cohortis meae nihil est quod doleas, Cic. Att. 7, 3, 8.
