Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Quadra

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

QUAD'RA. In a general sense implies any thing which has four corners, or possesses a square form; whence specially: —

1. A square dining-table (Virg. Aen. vii. 115. Ib. iii. 257.) as contradistinct from a round one; both of which forms were adopted by the ancients, the former being the earliest model, the latter of most common usage. Hence the expression aliena vivere quadra (Juv. v. 2.) denotes a parasite, who lives at another man's expense; or, literally, at another man's table. The illustration (Quadra/1.1) represents a square dining table, from the Vatican Virgil, spread before the companions of Ulysses, in the island of Circe.

2. The Roman architects employed the word in two different senses; — to designate the square member or plinth placed under the base (spira) of a column. (Vitruv. iii. 4. 5.); and each of the narrow flat bands with plain surfaces, forming respectively the upper and lower division between the hollow scotia and swelling torus above and below it (Id. iii. 5. 2. and 3.); all which members are exhibited by the illustration (Quadra/2.1) annexed.

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  Quadra/1.1
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  Quadra/2.1