circlus

* * *

circŭlus, i, m. (contr. circlus, like vinclum = vinculum, Verg. G. 3, 166) [kindred with kirkos, kuklos, circinus], a circular figure, a circle: circulus aut orbis, qui kuklos Graece dicitur, Cic. N. D. 2, 18, 47:

muri exterior,

Liv. 36, 9, 12:

circulus ad speciem caelestis arcūs orbem solis ambiit,

Suet. Aug. 95.—

Esp.

In astronomy, a circular course, orbit:

stellae circulos suos orbesque conficiunt celeritate mirabili,

Cic. Rep. 6, 15, 15:

aequinoctialis, solstitialis, septentrionalis,

Varr. L. L. 9, § 24; Ov. M. 2, 516:

lacteus,

the Milky Way, Plin. 2, 25, 23, § 91; 18, 29, 69, § 230:

signifer,

Vitr. 6, 1, 1; 9, 8, 8.—

In geog., a zone or belt of the eartb's surface:

plura sunt segmenta mundi, quae nostri circulos appellavere, Graeci parallelos,

Plin. 6, 34, 39, § 212 sqq.—

Trop., of time:

mensis artiore praecingitur circulo,

Sen. Ep. 12, 6. —

Meton.

Any circular body; a ring, necklace, hoop, chain, Verg. A. 5, 559; 10, 138; id. G. 3, 166; Plin. 14, 21, 27, § 132; Suet. Aug 80.—

A circle or company for social intercourse (very freq.):

in conviviis rodunt, in circulis vellicant,

Cic. Balb. 26, 57;

so with convivia also,

Liv. 32, 20, 3; 34, 61, 5; 44, 22, 8; Domit. Mars. ap. Quint. 6, 3, 105; Tac. A. 3, 54; Nep. Epam. 3, 3; Mart. 2, 86, 11; 10, 62, 5:

cir culos aliquos et sessiunculas consectarl,

Cic. Fin. 5, 20, 56 per fora et circulos locuti sunt, Tac Agr 43; cf Quint. 12, 10, 74:

quemcumque patrem familias arripuissetis ex aliquo circulo,

Cic. de Or. 1, 34, 159; 1, 38, 174:

de circulo se subducere,

to withdraw from the assembly, id. Q. Fr. 3, 4, 1; Quint. 2, 12 10; cf.:

densa circumstantium corona latissimum judicium multiplici circulo ambibat,

Plin. Ep 6, 33, 3.