pagus

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

pāgus: i (old
I gen. PAGEIEI, which prob. is an error for PAGEI, Inscr. Orell. 3793), m. root pak-, pag-, to make fast or firm, whence pango, pax, pagina; Gr. πήγνυμι, πάγος>, etc.; prop., a place with fixed boundaries; hence, a district, canton, province (opp. to the city), the country (cf. vicus): paganalia (feriae sunt eorum) qui sunt aliquoius pagi, Varr. L. L. 6, § 24; cf. id. ib. § 26 Müll.: Lemonia tribus a pago Lemonio appellata est, Paul. ex Fest. p. 15: pagos et compita circum, Verg. G. 2, 382: omissis pagis vicisque, Tac. A. 1, 56: MAGISTER PAGI, a country magistrate, Inscr. Orell. 3793 sq.: si me toto laudet vicinia pago, Juv. 14, 154.—Of the districts, cantons, of the Gauls and Germans: in Galliā ... in omnibus pagis partibusque, Caes. B. G. 6, 11; 1, 12; 4, 1; 22; 6, 23; 7, 64; Tac. G. 39: cum Alamannorum pagos aliquos esse reputaret hostiles, Amm. 18, 2, 1.—
II Transf.
   A The country people: festus in pratis vacat otioso Cum bove pagus, Hor. C. 3, 18, 11: pagus agat festum, Ov. F. 1, 669.—
   B Novem Pagi, a city in Belgic Gaul, now Dieuze, Amm. 16, 2, 9 (al. Decem Pagi).