I.that which is poured out in offerings to the gods, a drinkoffering, libation (class.).
I. Lit.: “ut sacrificiorum libamenta serventur,” Cic. Leg. 2, 12, 29: “libamenta Veneri solvere,” Just. 12, 10, 4: “haec ego nascentes laetus bacchatus ad aras libamenta tuli,” offerings, Stat. S. 3, 1, 163: “dona magnifica, quasi libamenta praedarum,” first-fruits, Cic. Rep. 2, 24, 44: “haec est lex sacrificii et libamentorum,” Vulg. Lev. 6, 14 (cf. libamen, I. A.).—
II. Trop.
A. That which is tasted: “varia illa libamenta,” Sen. Ep. 84, 5.—
B. A trial, first attempt, a sample, specimen (post-class. and very rare): primitias quasdam et quasi libamenta ingenuarum artium dedimus, Gell. N. A. praef. § 13; id. 16, 8, 15.
