bidens

See also: Bidens

Latin

Alternative forms

• duidēns

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈbi.dens/, [ˈbɪd̪ẽːs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈbi.dens/, [ˈbiːd̪ens]

Etymology 1

From bi- (“two-”) +‎ dens (“tooth”).

Adjective

bidēns (genitive bidentis); third-declension one-termination adjective

1. (literally) two-toothed
2. (figuratively) two-pronged

Declension

Third-declension one-termination adjective.

Number	Singular			Plural
Case / Gender	Masc./Fem.	Neuter		Masc./Fem.	Neuter
Nominative	bidēns			bidentēs	bidentia
Genitive	bidentis			bidentium
Dative	bidentī			bidentibus
Accusative	bidentem	bidēns		bidentēs	bidentia
Ablative	bidentī			bidentibus
Vocative	bidēns			bidentēs	bidentia

Derived terms

• bidental

Descendants

• Translingual: Bidens
• English: bident

Etymology 2

Ellipsis of bidēns ovis f (“two-toothed sheep”), seemingly referring to a sheep of an age (typically between around 1 and 2 years old) when only the two front incisors in its lower jaw have been replaced by permanent teeth, which are larger and so stand out in contrast to the six remaining milk teeth.

Noun

bidēns f

1. a sheep of an age suitable for certain sacrifices; also more generally, any sheep or any sacrificial animal
   • 29 BCE – 19 BCE, Virgil, Aeneid 4.57:

     [...] mactant lēctās dē mōre bidentis, [...].

     [Dido and Anna] offer sacrifice — having chosen, in accordance with sacred custom, a two-toothed [sheep] — [...].

   • 23 BCE – 13 BCE, Horace, Odes 3.23:

     Nam quae nivali pascitur Algido
     devota quercus inter et ilices
     aut crescit Albanis in herbis
     victima pontificum securis
     cervice tinguet: te nihil attinet
     temptare multa caede bidentium
     parvos coronantem marino
     rore deos fragilique myrto.

     • 2004 translation by Niall Rudd

       The victim marked out for sacrifice, that feeds on snowy Algidus among the oaks and holm oaks or grows fat in Alban pastures, will stain with its neck the pontiffs’ axes; but it is not for you to pester the little gods whom you decorate with rosemary and brittle myrtle by slaughtering numerous sheep.

   • 8 CE, Ovid, Metamorphoses 15.575:

     Viridique e caespite factas
     placat odoratis herbosas ignibus aras
     vinaque dat pateris mactatarumque bidentum,
     quid sibi significent, trepidantia consulit exta

     • 1916 translation by Frank Justus Miller, G. P. Goold

       Then, making an altar of green turf, he appeased the gods with a fragrant burnt-offering, made a libation of wine, and consulted the quivering entrails of the slaughtered victims as to what they might mean for him.

   • c. 45 CE – 96 CE, Statius, Thebaid 3.457:

     Principio fibris pecudumque in sanguine divos
     explorant; iam tum pavidis maculosa bidentum
     corda negant diraque nefas minitantia vena.

     • 2004 translation by D. R. Shackleton Bailey

       To start, they explore the gods with entrails and in the blood of cattle; even then they take alarm as the spotted hearts of sheep threatening evil with ill-boding vein say them nay.

   • c. 45 CE – 96 CE, Statius, Thebaid 4.416:

     ...circumque bidentum
     visceribus laceris et odori sulphuris aura
     graminibusque novis et longo murmure purgat.

     • 2004 translation by D. R. Shackleton Bailey

       and purifies all around with mangled entrails of sheep and breath of odorous sulphur and fresh herbs and lengthy incantations.


   • c. 83 CE – 96 CE, Silius Italicus, Punica 13.433:

     Inde tibi, Alecto, tibi, numquam laeta Megaera,
     corpora lanigerum procumbunt lecta bidentum.

Declension

Third-declension noun (i-stem, ablative singular in -e or -ī).

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	bidēns	bidentēs
Genitive	bidentis	bidentium bidentum
Dative	bidentī	bidentibus
Accusative	bidentem	bidentēs bidentīs
Ablative	bidente bidentī	bidentibus
Vocative	bidēns	bidentēs

Etymology 3

Nominalization of the adjective, perhaps by ellipsis of a phrase headed by a masculine noun such as ligō m (“mattock, hoe”). Compare tridēns m.

Noun

bidēns m

1. a two-pronged tool, such as an iron hoe or mattock
   • 8 CE, Ovid, Fasti 4.693–694:

     Ille suam peragēbat humum, sīve ūsus arātrī
     seu curvae falcis sīve bidentis erat.

     He was working the farm himself, whether there was need of a plow
     or a curved sickle or a two-pronged [hoe].

Declension

Third-declension noun (i-stem, ablative singular in -e or -ī).

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	bidēns	bidentēs
Genitive	bidentis	bidentium
Dative	bidentī	bidentibus
Accusative	bidentem	bidentēs bidentīs
Ablative	bidente bidentī	bidentibus
Vocative	bidēns	bidentēs

Further reading

• “bidens”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “bidens”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• bidens in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• bidens in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• “bidens”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “bidens”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin