Xēnĭ-ŭm, n.

(zē'nĭ-um), n.; pl. XĒ'NI-Ā. [Lat., from Gr. ξένιον, gift to a guest, from ξένος, guest.] (Antiq.) (a.) A present given to a guest or stranger, or to a foreign ambassador. (b.) (pl.) Pictures of still-life, fruit, fish, and the like, many of which have been found as decorations on the walls of houses in Pompeii. They appear to have been popular for this use among the ancients. Fairholt.