aetas+constans

* * *

con-sto, stĭti, stātum (constātūrus, Sen. Clem. 1, 19, 3; Plin. 18, 5, 6, § 30; Luc. 2, 17; Mart. 10, 41, 5; Lact. Opif. Dei, 7, 11), 1, v. n.

To stand together, stand with some person or thing.

Lit. (very rare):

constant, conserunt sermones inter se drapetae,

Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 11.—

Trop., to stand with, to agree with, be in accord or agreement, to correspond, fit.

With cum and abl. (cf. consisto, II. B. 3.):

considerabit, constetne oratio aut cum re aut ipsa secum,

Cic. Inv. 2, 14, 45:

sententiā non constare cum superioribus et inferioribus sententiis, etc.,

Auct. Her. 2, 10, 14.—

Absol.:

veri similis narratio erit, si spatia temporum, personarum dignitates, consiliorum rationes, locorum opportunitates constabunt,

Auct. Her. 1, 9, 16.—

With dat.:

si humanitati tuae constare voles,

Cic. Att. 1, 11, 1.—And esp. with sibi, to agree, accord with itself, to remain like one's self, be consistent:

in Oppianico sibi constare et superioribus consentire judiciis debuerunt,

Cic. Clu. 22, 60; so,

with consentire,

id. Univ. 3 init.; id. Fin. 2, 11, 35:

ut constare in vitae perpetuitate possimus nobismetipsis nec in ullo officio claudicare,

id. Off. 1, 33, 119; so,

sibi (opp. titubare),

Quint. 5, 7, 11:

sibi et rei judicatae,

Cic. Clu. 38, 106:

sibi,

Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 16; id. A. P. 127; cf.:

constat idem omnibus sermo,

Liv. 9, 2, 3.—

In the phrase ratio constat, mercantile t. t., the account agrees or is correct, is or proves right:

auri ratio constat: aurum in aerario est,

Cic. Fl. 28, 69:

quibus ratio impensarum constaret,

was correct, accurately kept, Suet. Ner. 30.—

In postAug. prose, esp. in the younger Pliny, transf. from the sphere of business:

mirum est, quam singulis diebus in urbe ratio aut constet aut constare videatur,

Plin. Ep. 1, 9, 1; cf. id. ib. 1, 5, 16; 3, 18, 10; 2, 4, 4; 7, 6, 4; id. Pan. 38, 4; Just. praef. § 5: eam condicionem esse imperandi, ut non aliter ratio [p. 439] constet, quam si uni reddatur, Tac. A. 1, 6 fin. —

With the access. idea of firmness, to stand firm, to remain immovable, unchanging, steadfast, to abide, last, endure, persevere, etc. (very freq. in all perr. and styles).

In gen.:

prius quam totis viribus fulta constaret hostium acies,

Liv. 3, 60, 9; cf.:

nec pugna deinde illis constare,

id. 1, 30, 10:

ut non color, non vultus ei constaret,

id. 39, 34, 7; cf.:

valetudo ei neque corporis neque animi constitit,

Suet. Calig. 50; and:

dum sanitas constabit,

Phaedr. 4, 24, 30:

non mentibus solum consipere, sed ne auribus quidem atque oculis satis constare poterant,

Liv. 5, 42, 3; cf.:

in ebrietate lingua non constat,

Sen. Ep. 83, 27:

mente vix constare,

Cic. Tusc. 4, 17, 39; cf. Liv. 8, 19, 6; 44, 20, 7:

quā in sententia si constare voluissent,

Cic. Fam. 1, 9, 14; cf. Caes. B. G. 5, 36 fin.:

numerus legionum constat,

id. ib. 7, 35:

ceteris exercitibus constare fidem,

Tac. H. 2, 96:

utrimque fides constitit,

kept their word, Liv. 37, 32, 13; 2, 13, 9.— Poet.: cum sint huc forsitan illa, Haec translata illuc;

summā tamen omnia constant,

i. e. the principal sum remains always the same, Ov. M. 15, 258:

postquam cuncta videt caelo constare sereno,

every thing continues in unbroken serenity, Verg. A. 3, 518:

constitit in nullā qui fuit ante color,

Ov. A. A. 1, 120.—

In partic.

Milit. t. t., to stop, halt: multitudinem procul hostium constare videtur, Sisenn. ap. Non. p. 273, 4.—

Of facts, reports, etc., to be established, settled, certain, manifest, evident, well known:

quae cum constent, perspicuum debet esse, etc.,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 17, 40:

eorum quae constant exempla ponemus, horum quae dubia sunt, exempla adferemus, id. mv 1, 38, 68: quod nihil nobis constat,

Caes. B. G. 7, 5:

cum et factum constet et nomen, qualia sint vocatur in dubium,

Cic. Part. Or. 12, 42; cf.:

cum factum constat, sed a quo sit factum in controversiam venit,

Quint. 7, 2, 8; and impers., with acc. and inf.:

mihi multa agitanti constabat, paucorum civium egregiam virtutem cuncta patravisse,

Sall. C. 53, 4; cf.:

quod omnibus constabat, hiemari in Gallia oportere,

Caes. B. G. 4, 29 fin., and Cic. Clu. 13, 38.—

Constat (constabat, constabit, etc., it is settled, established, undisputed, certain, well known, etc.), Cic. Mil. 6, 14; id. Quint. 29, 89; Caes. B. G. 3, 6; 3, 9 al.; Ov. M. 7, 533; Quint. 4, 2, 90 et saep.—So freq.: constat inter omnes, with acc. and inf., all agree, all are convinced:

sed tum nimis inter omnis constabat neminem esse resalutatum,

Cic. Phil. 2, 41, 106:

quae propositio in se quiddam continet perspicuum et quod constare inter omnis necesse est, hanc velle approbare et firmare nihil attinet,

in which all must agree, id. Inv. 1, 36, 62 dub. (B. and K. stare); Caes. B. G. 7, 44; Nep. Alcib. 1, 1; Quint. 6, 1, 8 et saep.; cf.

also: constare inter homines sapientissimos (for which, just after: omnium consensu sic esse judicatum),

Cic. de Or. 3, 1, 3:

inter suos,

Caes. B. G. 7, 47:

inter augures, Liv 10, 6, 7 et saep.: cum de Magio constet,

Cic. Att. 13, 10, 3; cf.:

de facto constat,

Quint. 7, 2, 7; so with de, id. 7, 2, 11; 4, 2, 5:

etsi non satis mihi constiterat, cum aliquāne animi mei molestiā an potius, etc.,

Cic. Fam. 13, 1, 1:

nec satis certum constare apud animum poterat, utrum, etc.,

Liv. 30, 28, 1:

quid cuique sit opus constare decet,

Quint. 3, 9, 8; so id. 3, 8, 25:

quid porro quaerendum est? Factumne sit? At constat. A quo? At patet,

Cic. Mil. 6, 15; so absol., id. Verr. 2, 3, 21, § 54.—

Of a resolve.

Impers.: mihi (ei) constat, = certum est, it is my ( his) fixed determination, I am determined, I am fully resolved (rare): mihi quidem constat, nec meam contumeliam, nec meorum ferre, Anton. ap. Cic. Phil. 13, 19, 42:

neque satis Bruto neque tribunis militum constabat, quid agerent,

were undecided, Caes. B. G. 3, 14:

ut nihil ei constet quod agat,

Cic. Tusc. 4, 15, 35.—

With the resolve as subject:

animo constat sententia,

Verg. A. 5, 748:

cum constitit consilium,

when my mind was fully made up, Cic. Att. 8, 11, 1.—

In gen., as opp. to that which has no existence, to exist, be, abide (esp. in Lucr.):

(corpora) quoniam fragili naturā praedita constant,

Lucr. 1, 582; 1, 246; 1, 510 et saep.:

antiquissimi fere sunt, quorum quidem scripta constent,

Cic. de Or. 2, 22, 93; id. Verr. 2, 2, 76, § 187: qui sine manibus et pedibus constare deum posse decreverunt, id. N. D. 1, 33, 92:

si ipsa mens constare potest vacans corpore,

id. ib. 1, 10, 25.—

With ex, in, de, or the abl. (in Cic. only with ex; cf. Madv. ad Cic. Fin. 4, 8, 19), to consist in or of, to be composed of, to rest upon something, etc.

With ex (very freq. in prose and poetry):

fulminis ignem e parvis constare figuris,

Lucr. 2, 385:

homo ex animo constat et corpore,

Cic. N. D. 1, 35, 98;

id. Fin. l. l.: simplex (jus) e dulci constat olivo,

Hor. S. 2, 4, 64:

ea virtus, quae constat ex hominibus tuendis,

Cic. Off. 1, 44, 157 et saep.—

With in and abl. (very rare):

victoriam in earum cohortium virtute constare,

Caes. B. C. 3, 89 fin.; Nep. Att. 14 fin. —

With de:

partus duplici de semine,

Lucr. 4, 1229.—

With abl. (freq. in Lucr. and Quint.):

aeterno quia constant semine quaeque,

Lucr. 1, 221; 1, 484; 1, 518 et saep.:

agri campis, vineis, etc.,

Plin. Ep. 3, 19, 5:

constat tota oratio longioribus membris, brevioribus periodis,

Quint. 9, 4, 134; 5, 10, 63 et saep.:

causa constat aut unius rei controversiā aut plurium,

id. 3, 10, 1. omnis disciplina memoriā, id. 11, 2, 1. omne jus aut scripto aut moribus, id. 12, 3, 6 et saep.—

Mercantile t. t., like our phrase, to stand at, i. e. to cost; constr. with abl.. gen., etc., of price (cf. Zumpt, Gr. § 444).

Lit.

With abl.:

ut unae quadrigae Romae constiterint quadringentis milibus,

Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 14; Suet. Vit. 19:

filius auro,

Plaut. Truc. 2, 6, 57:

navis gratis,

Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 19, § 48 (al. stare):

HS. sex milibus tibi constant,

id. ib. 2, 4, 12, §

28: tanto nobis deliciae,

Plin. 12, 18, 41, § 84:

magno tibi,

Plin. Ep. 2, 6, 4:

parvo,

Pall. Febr. 9, 12; cf.

gratis,

Sen. Ep. 104, 34; Aug. Serm. 385, 6.—

With gen.:

(ambulatiuncula) prope dimidio minoris constabit isto loco,

Cic. Att. 13, 29, 2; Suet. Ner. 27 fin.:

quanti funus,

id. Vesp. 19; Juv. 7, 45.—

With adv.: quod mihi constat carius, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 272, 25; so,

vilissime,

Col. 9, 1. 6.—

With sup.:

cujus area super HS. millies constitit,

Suet. Caes. 26.—

Trop.:

edocet, quanto detrimento et quot virorum fortium morte necesse sit constare victoriam,

Caes. B. G. 7, 19:

odia constantia magno,

Ov. H. 7, 47:

imperia pretio quolibet constant bene,

Sen. Phoen. 664.—Hence, constans, antis, P. a. (acc. to II. 1.), standing firm, firm, unchangeable, constant, immovable, uniform, fixed, stable, invariable (freq. and class.).

Lit.:

mellis constantior est natura (sc. quam aquae),

Lucr. 3, 192:

constans uva contra tenorem unum algoris aestusve,

Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 27:

cujus in indomito constantior inguine nervus, Quam nova arbor, etc.,

Hor. Epod. 12, 19:

cursus certi et constantes,

Cic. N. D. 3, 9, 24; cf.:

constans reversio stellarum (with conveniens),

id. ib. 2, 21, 54:

constantissimus motus lunae,

id. Div. 2, 6, 17:

nihil (mundo) motu constantius,

id. N. D. 3, 9, 23; 2, 21, 54:

constanti vultu graduque,

Liv. 5, 46, 3: aetas, the mature age (of an adult), Cic. Sen. 10, 33; cf.:

constans aetas, quae media dicitur,

id. ib. 20, 76:

aetate nondum constanti,

Suet. Galb. 4:

pax,

firm, secure, Liv. 6, 25, 6:

fides,

Hor. C. 3, 7, 4:

an ire comminus et certare pro Italiā constantius foret,

safer, Tac. H. 3, 1. —

Agreeing or accordant with itself, consistent, harmonious:

quemadmodum in oratione constanti, sic in vitā omnia sint apta inter se et convenientia,

Cic. Off. 1, 40, 144:

nihil intellego dici potuisse constantius,

id. Tusc. 5, 9, 25; cf.:

incredibilia an inter se constantia,

Quint. 5, 4, 2:

rumores,

Cic. Fam. 12, 9, 1:

constans parum memoria hujus anni,

Liv. 10, 37, 13:

constans fama erat,

Suet. Caes. 6; so,

opinio,

id. Tib. 39; id. Vesp. 4 al.—

Trop., intellectually or morally certain, sure, steadfast, constant, faithful, steady, unchanging:

firmi et stabiles et constantes amici,

Cic. Lael. 17, 62; cf. Nep. Lys. 2, 2:

quem hominem? Levem? imo gravissimum. Mobilem? imo constantissimum,

Cic. Rosc. Com. 16, 49; cf. opp. varium, id. Fragm. ap. Quint. 6, 3, 48 Spald.:

pater amens at is quidem fuit omnium constantissimus,

a very constant, steadfast man, Cic. Rosc. Am. 14, 41; cf.:

prudens et constans (testis),

Quint. 5, 7, 26; and under adv.:

(Helvidius Priscus) recti pervicax, constans adversus metus,

Tac. H. 4, 5 fin.:

constans Fortuna tantum in levitate suā,

Ov. Tr. 5, 8, 18; cf.: neque fidei constans, neque strenuus in perfidiā, Tac. H. 3, 57:

constantior In vitiis, etc.,

Hor. S. 2, 7, 18.— Adv.: constanter.

(Acc. to A.) Firmly, immovably, steadily, constantly:

manere in suo statu,

Cic. Univ. 13: constanter ac perpetuo placet consilium, Brut. ap. Cic. Ep. ad Brut. 1, 16, 9:

vitiis gaudere constanter,

Hor. S. 2, 7, 6.— Comp.:

ut maneamus in perspicuis firmius et constantius,

Cic. Ac. 2, 14, 45.— Sup.:

impetus caeli constantissime conficiens vicissitudinis anniversarias,

Cic. N. D. 2, 38, 97.—

Harmoniously, evenly, uniformly, consistently:

constanter et aequaliter ingrediens oratio,

Cic. Or. 58, 198:

sibi constanter convenienterque dicere,

id. Tusc. 5, 9, 26; cf. id. ib. 5, 9, 24; in comp., id. ib. 5, 9, 25; in sup., id. ib. 5, 8, 23; id. Ac. 2, 3, 9; so,

hi constanter omnes nuntiaverunt,

with one voice, unanimously, Caes. B. G. 2, 2:

aequabilius atque constantius sese res humanae haberent,

Sall. C. 2, 3:

aequabilius atque constantius regere provincias,

Tac. A. 15, 21 fin. —

(Acc. to B.) Steadily, calmly, tranquilly, sedately:

constanter ac non trepide pugnare,

Caes. B. G. 3, 25; cf.

agere, Auct. B. Afr. 84: proelium inire,

Suet. Vesp. 4; id. Tib. 19:

constanter et sedate ferre dolorem,

Cic. Tusc. 2, 20, 46:

constanter et libere se gerere,

id. Att. 4, 16, 9:

constanter prudenterque fit,

id. Tusc. 4, 6, 12:

constanter delata beneficia (with judicio, considerate, and opp. repentino quodam impetu),

id. Off. 1, 15, 49.— Comp.:

cetera exsequi,

Suet. Aug. 10:

acrius quam constantius proelium inire,

Curt. 4, 6, 14.— Sup.:

amicitias retinere,

Suet. Aug. 66; id. Tib. 45 al.

fĕrē and fermē ( fĕrĕ, Aus. Epigr. 10, 5, 5), adv. [Sanscr. dhar-, dhar-ami, to bear, support; Gr. root, thra-, in thrênus, stool, thronos, seat; Lat. firmus; cf.: forma, forum. Ferme is perh. a sup. form for ferime, v. Rib. Lat. Part. p. 6 sq. Erroneously, Varr.: ferme dicitur quod nunc fere: utrumque dictum a ferendo, quod id quod fertur est in motu atque adventat, L. L. 7, § 92 Müll.], approximately, closely, in two senses.

With the idea of approach predominant, nearly, almost, well-nigh, within a little, for the most part, about (esp. with words of number, quantity, multitude; cf.: plerumque, vulgo).

Form fere:

fere sexennis,

Plaut. Poen. 4, 2, 80:

abhinc menses decem fere,

Ter. Hec. 5, 3, 24; cf.:

fere abhinc annos quindecim,

id. Phorm. 5, 8, 28:

fere in diebus paucis, quibus haec acta sunt, Chrysis vicina haec moritur,

soon, only a few days after, id. And. 1, 1, 77:

quinta fere hora,

about the fifth hour, Cic. Pis. 6, 13:

hora fere tertia,

id. Att. 14, 20, 1:

tertia fere vigilia,

Caes. B. G. 4, 23, 1:

sexcentos fere annos,

Cic. Rep. 1, 48:

sexto decimo fere anno,

id. ib. 2, 33:

anno fere ante, quam consul est declaratus,

id. ib. 1, 5:

anno fere centesimo et quadragesimo post mortem Numae,

id. ib. 2, 15; cf.:

anno trecentesimo et quinquagesimo fere post Romam conditam,

id. ib. 1, 16:

decem fere annis post primos consules,

id. ib. 2, 32; cf.

also: decessit fere post annum quartum quam, etc.,

Nep. Arist. 3 fin.:

meus fere aequalis,

Cic. Brut. 48, 179; cf. id. Off. 3, 1, 1:

ipsa Peloponnesus fere tota in mari est,

id. Rep. 2, 4, 8; cf.:

totius fere Galliae legati ad Caesarem gratulatum convenerunt,

Caes. B. G. 1, 30, 1:

totis fere a fronte et ab sinistra parte nudatis castris,

id. ib. 2, 23, 4:

rerum omnium fere modus,

Cic. Rep. 6, 18; cf.:

quam fere omnium constans et moderata ratio vitae,

id. Clu. 16, 46:

ex omnibus fere partibus,

Caes. B. G. 7, 19:

in reliquis fere rebus,

id. ib. 6, 13, 3:

omnes fere,

Cic. Fam. 6, 10, 3; Caes. B. G. 2, 25, 1; 4, 20, 1; Nep. Arist. 2, 3; id. Chabr. 3, 4; Liv. 21, 60, 9; Suet. Caes. 87;

and in the order fere omnes,

Caes. B. G. 5, 13, 1; 5, 23, 4:

cujus disputationis fuit extremum fere de immortalitate animorum,

Cic. Lael. 4, 14; cf.: Phalereus ille Demetrius ultimus est fere ex Atticis. Quint. 10, 1, 80: cum fere e regione castris castra poneret, Caes. B. G. 7, 35, 1; id. ib. 3, 12, 1:

plus fere,

Plaut. Truc. 1, 1, 45:

semper fere,

Cic. de Or. 2, 6, 22:

satis fere diximus,

id. Off. 1, 18, 60:

tantum fere,

almost only, id. Rep. 2, 18 fin.:

Lycurgus eadem vidit fere,

id. ib. 2, 23:

haec fere,

id. ib. 1, 34 fin.; cf.:

hoc fere ab reliquis differunt, quod,

in this chiefly, Caes. B. G. 6, 18, 3:

haec fere dicere habui,

Cic. N. D. 3, 39, 93:

haec erant fere, quae, etc.,

id. Fam. 12, 5 fin.; 12, 30 fin.; id. Att. 2, 16, 1; id. Or. 54, 182; id. Ac. 2, 32, 102:

exposui fere non philosophorum judicia, sed, etc.,

id. N. D. 1, 16, 42; cf.:

sic fere componendum, quomodo pronuntiandum erit,

Quint. 9, 4, 138:

fere eodem pacto, quo,

Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 10:

et fere apparet, quid in invidiam, etc.... dicendum sit,

Quint. 5, 12, 16.—

Form ferme:

hoc factum est ferme abhinc biennium,

Plaut. Bacch. 3, 2, 4; so,

abhinc annos ferme L.,

Vell. 2, 90 fin.:

nam ferme ante annos DCCCCL. floruit,

id. 1, 5, 3:

intra XII. ferme annos,

id. 2, 11 fin.:

duodequadragesimo ferme anno, ex quo regnare coeperat Tarquinius,

Liv. 1, 40:

mille ferme delecti propugnatores onerariis imponuntur,

id. 30, 10; cf.:

pars ferme dimidia,

id. 42, 51:

a quo (flumine) aberat mons ferme milia viginti,

Sall. J. 48, 3; cf.:

in tumulo quatuor ferme milia distante ab castris regiis consedit,

Liv. 30, 8:

abest ab Carthagine quindecim milia ferme passuum locus,

id. 30, 9:

ferme eadem omnia, quae, etc.,

Ter. Phorm. 5, 7, 21:

cum ferme cunctos proceres cum honore nominavisset,

Tac. A. 3, 76:

mihi quidem aetas acta est ferme,

for the most part, about, Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 38.

With the idea of nearness or closeness predominant, quite, entirely, just.

Form fere:

domum revortor maestus atque animo fere conturbato,

quite distracted, Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 69:

quod statuas quoque videmus ornatu fere militari,

quite military, Cic. Off. 1, 18, 61:

paria esse fere peccata,

quite equal, Hor. S. 1, 3, 96:

etsi nobis, qui id aetatis sumus, evigilatum fere est, tamen, etc.,

entirely, sufficiently, Cic. Rep. 3, 29:

cum circa hanc fere consultationem disceptatio omnis verteretur,

just on this debated point, Liv. 36, 7, 1: jamque fere, just now, Enn. ap. Non. 217, 11; and ap. Charis. p. 114 P. (Ann. v. 286 and 580 ed. Vahl.); Verg. A. 3, 135; 5, 327; 835; cf.: jam fere, Enn. ap. Non. 355, 17 (Trag. v. 201 ed. Vahl.); and: jam... fere, id. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 46 Müll. (Ann. v. 447 ed. Vahl.):

sermo qui tum fere multis erat in ore,

just then, Cic. Lael. 1, 2.—

Form ferme: circumvenire video ferme injuria, altogether wrong, Naev. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 92 Müll. (Rib. Trag. Fragm. p. 12); cf.: ferme aderant ratibus, just, Enn. ib. § 23 Müll. (Ann. v. 602 ed. Vahl.); so, quod ferme dirum in tempus cecidere Latinae, Cic. Poët. Div. 1, 11, 18; and:

sed eum constabat virum esse ferme bonum,

Gell. 14, 2, 5:

ferme ut quisque rem accurat suam, Sic ei procedunt post principia denique,

Plaut. Pers. 4, 1, 4; so,

ferme ut pueri,

Ter. Hec. 3, 1, 32:

jam ferme moriens me vocat,

just dying, id. And. 1, 5, 49.—

In partic.

With negatives, scarcely, hardly.

(= vix, non facile.) Form fere:

nihil aut non fere multum differre,

Cic. Brut. 40, 150:

nemo fere saltat sobrius,

id. Mur. 6; id. de Or. 1, 25, 116:

nihil fere intelligit,

id. Off. 3, 3, 15:

non fere labitur,

id. Fin. 1, 6, 18:

quod non fere ante auctumnum Elaver vado transiri solet,

Caes. B. G. 7, 35, 1:

duo spondei non fere jungi patiuntur,

Quint. 9, 4, 101:

in se dicere non est fere nisi scurrarum,

id. 6, 3, 82:

denique ex bellica victoria non fere quemquam est invidia civium consecuta,

hardly any one, Cic. Sest. 23, 51:

rationem sententiae suae non fere reddere,

id. Tusc. 1, 17, 38:

nec adhuc fere inveni, qui, etc.,

id. Att. 7, 6, 1; cf.:

quod non fere contingit, nisi, etc.,

id. Lael. 20, 72:

nec rei fere sane amplius quicquam fuit,

Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 3:

in qua (disputatione) nihil fere, quod magno opere ad rationes omnium rerum pertineret, praetermissum puto,

Cic. Rep. 1, 8 fin.: tum est Cato locutus;

quo erat nemo fere senior temporibus illis, nemo prudentior,

id. Lael. 1, 5:

dixit, hunc ne in convivio quidem ullo fere interfuisse,

id. Rosc. Am. 14:

neque ullum fere totius hiemis tempus sine sollicitudine Caesaris intercessit,

Caes. B. G. 5, 53, 5: neque enim [p. 736] fere iam est ullus dies occupatus, ut nihil, etc., Quint. 10, 7, 27.—With a neg. interrog.:

nam quid fere undique placet?

Quint. 1, 2, 15.—

Form ferme:

hoc non ferme sine magnis principum vitiis evenit,

Cic. Rep. 1, 45 fin.; id. Tusc. 5, 38, 111:

quod non ferme decernitur, nisi, etc.,

Liv. 22, 9, 8; 24, 25, 9:

voluptatibus erant inferiores, nec pecuniis ferme superiores,

Cic. Rep. 2, 34 fin.; so,

nec ferme res antiqua alia est nobilior,

Liv. 1, 24:

facio, quod manifesto moechi haud ferme solent,

Plaut. Poen. 4, 2, 40; so Ter. And. 3, 1, 2:

haud ferme,

Liv. 21, 7, 9; 27, 28, 14:

ut eo nihil ferme quisquam addere posset,

Cic. Brut. 43, 161:

quia nemo ferme huc sine damno devortitur,

Plaut. Men. 2, 1, 39:

non ferme facilius aliquid tenere,

Cic. Rep. 2, 5 fin.; 1, 45, 69.—

Of time (in the usual course of things; opp. to sometimes, now and then), in general, generally, usually, commonly.

Form fere:

Fit fere, ut, etc.,

Cic. Rep. 6, 10; cf.:

jam hoc fere sic fieri solere accepimus,

id. de Imp. Pomp. 9, 24:

quod fere solet fieri,

id. Inv. 1, 29, 46; cf.

also: ut fere fit,

id. ib. 2, 4, 14:

nam fere maxima pars morem hunc homines habent,

Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 36:

quod fere libenter homines id, quod volunt, credunt,

Caes. B. G. 3, 18, 6:

aedificio circumdato silva (ut sunt fere domicilia Gallorum, etc.),

id. ib. 6, 30, 3:

ruri fere se continebat,

Ter. Ph. 2, 3, 16:

nam fere non difficile est invenire, quid, etc.,

Auct. Her. 2, 18, 27:

in eum fere est voluntas nostra propensior,

Cic. Off. 2, 20, 69:

sic omnia nimia in contraria fere convertuntur,

id. Rep. 1, 44:

quod in illis singuli fuissent fere, qui, etc.,

id. ib. 2, 1:

nominatim fere referri, quid, etc.,

id. de Or. 2, 33, 142:

nigra fere terra,

commonly black, Verg. G. 2, 203:

qui timet his adversa, fere miratur eodem quo cupiens pacto,

Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 9.—Strengthened by plerumque or plerique:

hic solebamus fere Plerumque eam operiri,

Ter. Ph. 1, 2, 39; cf.

corresp. to plerumque: fortuna eos plerumque efficit caecos, quos complexa est: itaque efferuntur fere fastidio et contumacia,

Cic. Lael. 15, 54:

adducto fere vultu, plerumque tacitus,

Suet. Tib. 68:

non sunt vitiosiores, quam fere plerique, qui avari avaros... reprehendunt,

Cic. Tusc. 3, 30, 73.—Opp. raro, interdum, saepe:

fere praedicta aetas laeto solo truncoque tres materias, raro quatuor desiderat,

Col. 4, 17, 5; cf.:

fereque id in capillo fit, rarius in barba,

Cels. 6, 2:

ipse Circenses ex amicorum fere libertinorumque cenaculis spectabat, interdum e pulvinari,

Suet. Aug. 15:

in consulatu pedibus fere, extra consulatum saepe adaperta sella per publicum incessit,

id. ib. 53.—

Form ferme:

quod ferme evenit,

Cic. Rep. 1, 42:

nam ferme apud Numidas in omnibus proeliis magis pedes quam arma tuta sunt,

Sall. J. 74 fin.:

inculta ferme vestiuntur virgultis vepribusque,

Liv. 21, 54:

intacta invidia media sunt: ad summa ferme tendit,

id. 45, 35; cf.:

mobilis et varia est ferme natura malorum,

Juv. 13, 236:

ceterum parva quoque (ut ferme principia omnia),

Liv. 7, 2:

ut ferme ad nova imperia,

Tac. A. 2, 2:

quae antea dictatorum et consulum ferme fuerant beneficia,

Liv. 9, 30, 3:

nocte ferme proficiscebantur,

id. 34, 13, 3.