catēna ae, f CAT-, a chain, fetter, shackle: ferrea, Cs.: catenā vinctus, Ta.: collo inserta catena, Cu.: firma, L.: stridor tractae catenae, V. donasse catenam Laribus, i. e. to have been a slave, H.

—Usu. plur: alqm vincire catenis, O.: in catenas conicere alqm, Cs.: catenas inicere alcui: alqm in catenis Romam mittere, L.: catenas alcui exsolvere, Ta.: rumpere catenas, H.

—Fig., a constraint, fetter, barrier, bond: belua constricta legum sacratarum catenis: validā teneamur catenā, Tb.: mille adde catenas, clauses of obligation (in a bond), H.