Afrĭca , ae, f. the Romans received this name from the Carthaginians as designating their country, and in this sense only the Gr. ἡ Ἀφρική occurs.
1. Afrĭcānus , a, um, adj., pertaining to Africa, African: “bellum Africanum,” the war of Cœsar with the partisans of Pompey in Africa, Cic. Deiot. 9: “rumores,” of the African war, id. ib.: “causa,” id. Fam. 6, 13: “possessiones,” in Africa, Nep. Att. 12: “gallina,” a guinea-hen, Varr. R. R. 3, 9; cf. Plin. 10, 26, 38, § 74.—Subst.: Afrĭcānae , ārum, sc. ferae, panthers, Liv. 44, 18; so Plin. 8, 17, 24, § 64; Plin. Ep. 6, 34; Suet. Cat. 18; id. Claud. 21 al.—Esp., Afrĭcā-nus , surname of the two most distinguished Scipios.
2. Afrĭcus , a, um, adj., African (mostly poet. for the prose Africanus): terra, Enn. ap. Cic. de Or. 3, 42, 167; so Liv. 29, 23 fin.: “bella,” Sil. 17, 11: “Vicus,” a place in Rome, on the Esquiline Hill, where the Carthaginian hostages were held in custody, Varr. R. R. 5, 32, 44.—But esp. freq., Afrĭcus ventus , or subst.: Afrĭcus , i, m., the south-west wind, Gr. λίψ, blowing between Auster and Favonius (λιβόνοτος and ζέφυρος), opp. Vulturnus (καικίας), now called, among the Italians, Affrico or gherbino; cf. Plin. 2, 47, 46, § 119, and Sen. Q. N. 5, 16: “creberque procellis Africus,” Verg. A. 1, 86: “praeceps,” Hor. C. 1, 3, 12: “luctans,” id. ib. 1, 1, 15: “pestilens,” id. ib. 3, 23, 5: “protervus,” id. Epod. 16, 22.—Adj.: procellae, the waves or storms caused by the Africus, Hor. C. 3, 29, 57.—In Propert., Africus, as the god of this wind, is called pater, 5, 3, 48, but Müll. here reads Aetheris.