a posture of the body, between sitting and lying. The word comes from the Latin accubare, compounded of ad, to, and cubo, I lie down. Accubation, or Accubitus, was the table-posture of the Greeks and Romans; whence we find the words particularly used for the lying, or rather (as we call it) sitting, down to meat. The Greeks introduced this posture. The Romans, during the frugal ages of the republic, were strangers to it. But as luxury got footing, this posture came to be adopted, at least by the men; for as to women, it was reputed an indecency in them to lie down among the men: though, afterwards, this too was got over. But children did not lie down; nor servants, nor soldiers, nor persons of meaner condition; but took their meals sitting, as a posture less indulgent. The Roman manner of disposing themselves at table was this: A low round table was placed in the convivium, or dining-room; and, about this, usually three, sometimes only two, beds or couches; according to the number...