Lewis & Short

cĭnis, ĕris, m. (in sing. fem., Lucr. 4, 926; Cat. 68, 90; 101, 4; Caesar, acc. to Non. p. 198, 11; Calvus ap. Non. l. l. and ap. Charis; p. 78 p; App. M. 9, 12, p. 222; Scrib. c. 226; 230; 232; 245, Ser. c. 44; Aus. Parent 27, 3; Inscr. Orell 4479; cf. Neue, Formenl. 1, p. 657; access. form: hoc cĭnus, Gloss. Labb.; Sicul. Flacc. p. 140, 17, Agrim. p. 308, 3; p. 308, 5; cf. Lachm. ad Lucr 2, p. 190, and a nom. cĭ-ner is mentioned by Prisc. 5, p. 688: 6, p. 707) [kindr with κόνις; cf. also naucus], ashes,

  1. I. In gen. (while favilla is usually the ashes that is light like dust, or is still glowing; cf.: corporis favillam ab reliquo separant cinere, Plin. 19, 1, 4, § 19: cinis e favillā et carbonibus ad calfaciendum triclinium illatis exstinctus et jam diu frigidus exarsit repente, Suet. Tib. 74), Lucr. 1, 872; cf. id. 1, 890, and 4, 927; Cato ap. Charis. p. 78 P.; Suet. Tib. 74; Col. 2, 15, 6; 11, 3, 28; 12, 22, 1; Hor. C. 4, 13, 28.
    1. B. From the use of ashes for scouring vessels, the proverb is derived: hujus sermo haut cinerem quaeritat, Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 10.
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. The ashes of a corpse that is burned; so very freq. in both numbers; in plur. esp. freq. in the poets and postAug. prose.
          1. (α) In sing.: cur hunc dolorem cineri ejus atque ossibus inussisti? Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 44, § 113: ex tuā calamitate cinere atque ossibus filii sui solacium reportare, id. ib. 2, 5, 49, § 128: dare poenas cineri atque ossibus clarissimi viri, id. Phil. 13, 10, 22: obsecravit per fratris sui mortui cinerem, id. Quint. 31, 97 (cf. in plur.: jura per patroni tui cineres, Quint. 9, 2, 95); Cat. 101, 4; Tib. 1, 3, 7; Verg. A. 3, 303; 4, 623; 10, 828; 11, 211; Hor. Epod. 17, 33; Ov. M. 7, 521; 12, 615; Sil. 8, 129.
            Poet. for death, or the person after death: Troja virūm et virtutum omnium acerba cinis, Cat. 68, 90: et cedo invidiae, dummodo absolvar cinis, i. e. after my death, Phaedr. 3, 9, 4: et mea cum mutuo fata querar cinere, Tib. 2, 6, 34: nunc non cinis ille poëtae Felix? Pers. 1, 36: post cinerem (after burning the corpse) cineres haustos ad pectora pressant, Ov. M. 8, 538.
            Figuratively: cineri nunc medicina datur, i. e. when it is too late, Prop. 2 (3), 14, 16.
          2. (β) In plur., Cat. 68, 98; Verg. A. 5, 55: expedit matris cineres opertos Fallere, Hor. C. 2, 8, 9; id. A. P. 471; Ov. M. 13, 426; Suet, Calig. 15; Quint. 7, 9, 5; 9, 2, 95; Inscr. Orell. 4834 al.
    2. B. The ruins of a city laid waste and reduced to ashes: cineres patriae, Verg. A. 10, 59: patriae cinis, Auct. Her. 4, 8, 12; cf. Ov. M. 2, 216.
    3. C. Trop., an emblem of destruction, ruin, annihilation: si argentum’st, omne id ut fiat cinis, Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 31: quicquid erat nactus praedae majoris, ubi omne Verterat in fumum et cinerem, i. e. had consumed, spent, Hor. Ep. 1, 15, 39; cf. Tib. 1, 9, 12; Ov. Tr. 5, 12, 68.