Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Codex

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CO'DEX. A clog, or heavy log of wood, chained to the feet of slaves which they dragged about with them, and were made to sit upon. Juv. ii. 57. Prop. iv. 7. 44.

2. A blank book for writing in, made up of separate leaves bound together, like our own, as is shown by the annexed example (Codex/2.1), from a Pompeian painting. Originally, the leaves were made of thin tablets of wood (codices i. q. caudices), coated with wax, whence the name arose and which was still retained in use, although the original material had been superseded by paper or parchment. Ulp. Dig. 32. 50. Cic. Verr. i. 36. Id. Sull. 15.

3. At a later period, the word also means a code of laws, as the Codex Justinianus, Theodosianus, &c., which it may be assumed were written in books of this description.

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  Codex/2.1