gerere

pectus, ŏris, n. [kindred with the Sanscr. vakshas, pectus], the breast, in men and animals.

Lit., the breast, the breastbone:

pectus, hoc est ossa praecordiis et vitalibus natura circumdedit,

Plin. 11, 37, 82, § 207; cf. Cels. 8, 7 fin.; 8, 8, 2:

meum cor coepit in pectus emicare,

Plaut. Aul. 4, 3, 4:

dignitas, quae est in latitudine pectoris,

Quint. 11, 3, 141:

summis digitis pectus appetere,

id. 11, 3, 124; 11, 3, 122:

pectore adverso,

id. 2, 15, 7:

aequo pectore,

upright, not inclined to one side, id. 11, 3, 125:

pectore in adverso ensem Condidit,

Verg. A. 9, 347:

in pectusque cadit pronus,

Ov. M. 4, 578:

latum demisit pectore clavum,

Hor. S. 1, 6, 28; 2, 8, 90 et saep.; Vulg. Gen. 3, 14.—In the poets freq., in plur., of a person's breast: hasta volans perrumpit pectora ferro, Liv. Andron. ap. Prisc. p. 760 P.; Ov. M. 4, 554.—

Transf.

The stomach ( poet.):

reserato pectore diras Egerere inde dapes... gestit,

Ov. M. 6, 663.—

As the seat of affection, courage, etc., the heart, feelings, disposition:

somnum socordiamque ex pectore oculisque amovere,

Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 11:

Ah, guttula Pectus ardens mi adspersisti,

i. e. a little comforted, id. Ep. 4, 1, 32:

in amicitiā, nisi, ut dicitur, apertum pectus videas, etc.,

Cic. Lael. 26, 97:

si non ipse amicus per se amatur toto pectore ut dicitur,

id. Leg. 1, 18, 49:

pietate omnium pectora imbuere,

Liv. 1, 21, 1:

metus insidens pectoribus,

id. 10, 41, 2; 1, 56, 4:

quinam pectora semper impavida repens terror invaserit,

id. 21, 30, 2:

in eodem pectore nullum est honestorum turpiumque consortium,

Quint. 12, 1, 4; 2, 5, 8:

te vero... jam pectore toto Accipio,

Verg. A. 9, 276:

his ubi laeta deae permulsit pectora dictis,

id. ib. 5, 816:

robur et aes triplex circa pectus erat,

Hor. C. 1, 3, 10; 2, 12, 15:

pectoribus mores tot sunt quot in orbe figurae,

id. A. A. 1, 759:

mollities pectoris,

tender-heartedness, id. Am. 3, 8, 18; id. H. 19, 192; so,

pectus amicitiae,

a friendly heart, a friend, Mart. 9, 15, 2; Stat. S. 4, 4, 103; Manil. 2, 600.— Of courage, bravery:

cum tales animos juvenum et tam certa tulistis Pectora,

Verg. A. 9, 249:

te vel per Alpium juga... Forti sequemur pectore,

Hor. Epod. 1, 11; Val. Fl. 6, 288.—Of conscience:

vita et pectore puro,

Hor. S. 1, 6, 64:

pectora casta,

Ov. H. 13, 30.—

The soul, spirit, mind, understanding:

de hortis toto pectore cogitemus,

Cic. Att. 13, 12, 4; so,

incumbe toto pectore ad laudem,

id. Fam. 10, 10, 2:

onerandum complendumque pectus maximarum rerum et plurimarum suavitate,

id. de Or. 3, 30, 121:

quod verbum in pectus Jugurthae altius descendit,

Sall. J. 11, 7; Liv. 1, 59:

(stultitiam tuam) in latebras abscondas pectore penitissumo,

Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 64:

multipotens pectus habere, ut copias... pectore promat suo,

id. Bacch. 4, 1, 8 Fleck.: haben' tu amicum quoi pectus sapiat? id. Trin. 1, 2, 53; id. Bacch. 4, 4, 12:

at Cytherea novas artes, nova pectore versat Consilia,

Verg. A. 1, 657:

oculis pectoris aliquid haurire,

Ov. M. 15, 63; id. Tr. 3, 1, 64:

memori referas mihi pectore cuncta,

Hor. S. 2, 4, 90:

nunc adbibe puro Pectore verba,

id. Ep. 1, 2, 68; 2, 1, 128:

pectore arripere artes,

Tac. Or. 28:

pectus est quod disertos facit, et vis mentis,

Quint. 10, 7, 15; Ov. P. 2, 4, 24:

succinctaque pectora curis,

Stat. S. 5, 1, 77:

rara occulti pectoris vox,

i. e. a reserved disposition, Tac. A. 4, 52:

dicere de summo pectore,

i.e. without much reflection, Gell. 17, 13, 7.—Of inspired persons:

incaluitque deo quem clausum pectore habebat,

Ov. M. 2, 641; Verg. A. 6, 48; Stat. Th. 4, 542.—

The person, individual, regarded as a being of feeling or passion:

cara sororum Pectora,

Verg. A. 11, 216:

mihi Thesea pectora juncta fide,

Ov. Tr. 1, 3, 66:

pectus consulis gerere,

Liv. 4, 13; cf. Mart. 9, 15; Manil. 2, 600; Stat. S. 4, 4, 103.