impossible

myrīcē, ēs, or myrīca, ae, f., = murikê, the tamarisk, a kind of shrub, Plin. 13, 21, 37, § 116; 24, 9, 41, § 67.—Prov., to signify something impossible:

pinguia corticibus sudent electra myricae,

Verg. E. 8, 54.

Myrīcē, ēs, f., a nymph, from whom Hannibal's wife Imilce was said to be descended, Sil. 3, 103.

nĕ-fas, n. indecl., something contrary to divine law, sinful, unlawful, execrable, abominable, criminal; an impious or wicked deed, a sin, a crime (cf.: scelus, flagitium, peccatum).

Lit.:

quicquid non licet, nefas putare debemus,

Cic. Par. 3, 2. 25; cf.:

officia tua mihi nefas est oblivisci,

id. Fam. 15, 21, 5:

Mercurius, quem Aegyptii nefas habent nominare,

id. N. D. 3, 22, 56: nefas est dictu, miseram fuisse talem senectutem, id. Sen. 5, 13:

eum, cui nihil umquam nefas fuit,

id. Mil. 27, 73:

quibus nefas est... deserere patronos,

Caes. B. G. 7, 40:

corpora viva nefas Stygiā vectare carinā,

Verg. A. 6, 391:

fas atque nefas,

right and wrong, id. G. 1, 505; Hor. Epod. 5, 87; cf. id. C. 1, 18, 10; Ov. M. 6, 585:

per omne fas ac nefas,

in every way, Liv. 6, 14, 10:

nefas triste piare,

Verg. A. 2, 184:

illa dolos dirumque nefas in pectore versat, Certa mori,

id. ib. 4, 563:

lex maculosum edomuit nefas,

i. e. adultery, Hor. C. 4, 5, 22:

in omne nefas se parare,

Ov. M. 6, 613:

summum crede nefas animam praeferre pudori,

Juv. 8, 83:

belli,

civil war, Luc. 2, 507; cf.:

fugiens civile nefas,

id. 7, 432:

magnum nefas contrahere,

Just. 24, 3:

facere nefas,

Vulg. Deut. 22, 21:

operari,

ib. Lev. 20, 13.— Poet., of a wicked person, a wretch, monster:

exstinxisse nefas tamen... Laudabor (i. e. Helen, as the destroyer of Troy),

Verg. A. 2, 585.—Also inserted as an interjection, O horrid! shocking! dreadful! quātenus, heu nefas! virtutem incolumem odimus, Hor. C. 3, 24, 30; cf.:

heu nefas, heu!

id. ib. 4, 6, 17:

quosne, nefas! omnes infandā in morte reliqui?

Verg. A. 10, 673:

sequiturque, nefas! Aegyptia conjux,

id. ib. 8, 688:

Lavinia virgo Visa, nefas! longis comprendere crinibus ignem,

O horrible! id. ib. 7, 73.—Esp.:

est nefas,

it is forbidden, contrary to law, Varr. L. L. 6, 4. —

Poet., transf.

A horrible or monstrous thing:

Eumenides Stygiumque nefas,

Luc. 6, 695; 1, 626:

infernum,

id. 7, 170; Stat. Th. 6, 942.—

Impossible: levius fit patientiā Quicquid corrigere est nefas, an impossibility (= athemiton, adunaton), Hor. C. 1, 24, 20.

nĕquĕo, īvi and ĭi, ĭtum, 4 (lengthened collat. form: nequinont pro nequeunt, ut solinunt, ferinunt, pro solent, et feriunt dicebant antiqui. Livius in Odysseā: partim errant, nequinont Graeciam redire, Paul. ex Fest. p. 162 Müll.— Imperf. nequibat, Sall. C. 59, 5; id. J. 56, 2.— Fut. nequibunt, Lucr. 1, 380.— Part. pres. nequiens, euntis:

Spartacus nequiens prohibere,

Sall. Fragm. p. 254 Gerl.; so,

nequiens,

App. M. 8, p. 207; Aus. Prof. 2:

sustinere corpora plerique nequeuntes,

Sall. H. 3, 72; so,

nequeuntes,

Arn. 1, 13; 7, 239), v. n. [nequeo:

libenter etiam copulando verba jungebant, ut sodes pro si audes, nequire pro non quire, malle pro magis velle,

Cic. Or. 45, 154; but Cic. himself always writes non queo in first pers. pres. ], not to be able, to be unable, I cannot (class.).

Act.:

ubi habitaret, invenires saltem, si nomen nequis,

Plaut. Merc. 3, 4, 51.—With inf.:

nequeo contineri quin loquar,

Plaut. Men. 2, 1, 28:

actam aetatem meminisse nequimus,

Lucr. 3, 672:

fecundae saepe nequissent uxores parere,

id. 4, 1254:

cum pisces ire nequibunt,

id. 1, 380:

ut ea, cum velimus, laxare nequeamus,

Cic. Or. 65, 220:

cum Demosthenes rho dicere nequiret,

id. Div. 2, 46, 96:

quod proelio adesse nequibat,

Sall. C. 59, 5; id. J. 14, 11; Hor. S. 1, 4, 85; id. A. P. 87; Verg. A. 6, 507.— Impers., it is impossible; with quin:

Satin qui amat, nequit quin nihili sit,

Plaut. Truc. 2, 7, 3.—

Pass., with inf. pass.: nequitum et nequitur pro non posse dicebant ut Plautus in Satyrione: retrahi nequitum, quoquo progressa est semel, Paul. ex Fest. p. 162 Müll.: ut nequitur comprimi, Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 20:

quid. quid sine sanguine civium ulcisci nequitur, jure factum sit,

Sall. J. 31, 8.

pŏtis (in the positive rarely declined, and in the neutr. pŏte), adj. ( comp. pŏ-tĭor, ius; sup. pŏtissĭmus, a, um; class. only in the comp.) [Sanscr. patis, lord; Gr. posis, husband; des-potês, lord; Lat. compotis (compos) potiri].

Posit., able, capable; possible (mostly ante-class. and poet.): divi qui potes pro illo quod Samothraces theoi dunatoi, Varr L. L. 5, § 58 Müll.; Macr. S. 3, 4:

nisi qui colaphos perpeti Potis parasitus,

Plaut. Capt. 1, 1, 21.—Usually in the connection potis or pote est, he, she, or it is able, may, or can:

at ea supterfugere potis es pauca,

Plaut. Capt. 5, 2, 17: neque sanguis ullo potis est pacto profluens consistere, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 38: istam non potis est vis saeva exstinguere venti, Poët. ap. Gell. 19, 9, 12:

at non Evandrum potis est vis ulla tenere,

Verg. A. 11, 148:

quod nunquam potis est sejungi,

Lucr. 1, 452:

nec potis est cerni,

id. 5, 719; Cat. 76, 24:

qui potis est?

how is it possible? id. 72, 7.—With plur.: si speres quicquam prodesse potis sunt, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 333 Müll. (Ann. v. 410 Vahl.):

duae plus satis dare potis sunt,

Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 17:

quid pastores potis sint,

Varr. R. R. 2, 2.—Without est: quis potis ingentes oras evolvere belli? Enn. ap. Diom. p. 381 P. (Ann. v. 178 Vahl.); Verg. A. 3, 671; Hor. C. 3, 17, 13.—Form pote:

si non aliud pote est,

Cat. 43, 16. Without est:

nec devitari letum pote,

Lucr. 3, 1079: viget, veget, utpote plurimum, Varr. ap Non. 2, 876:

nec non emptor pote ex empto vendito illum damnare,

id. R. R. 2, 2:

nec eniti remis pote,

Val. Fl. 4, 680; Prop. 2, 1, 46:

qui pote? vis dicam? nugaris,

Pers. 1, 56:

in te dici pote, Id, quod,

Cat. 98, 1:

nec peccatum a me quisquam pote dicere quicquam,

id. 67, 11:

hoc facito, sive id non pote sive pote,

be it impossible or possible, id. 76, 16:

quid pote simplicius?

what can be more simple? Mart. 9, 16, 2:

nihil pote supra,

nothing could exceed it, Ter. Ad. 2, 3, 11; Auct. ap. Cic. Brut. 46, 172; Cic. Att. 13, 38, 1:

quantum pote,

as soon as possible, id. ib. 4, 13, 1: quam pote, as much as possible (post-class.):

aufugiamus istinc quam pote longissime,

App. M. 1, p. 107, 9; 2, p. 119, 33.—

Comp.: pŏtĭor, us, that may be preferred, preferred; better, preferable (class.).

Of persons:

numquam edepol erit ille potior Harpax, quam ego,

Plaut. Ps. 4, 1, 17; 1, 3, 95:

quem aequiust potiorem habere quam te?

id. Stich. 1, 2, 40: qui plus pollet potiorque est patre, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 32, 69; id. Fam. 10, 3, 2:

itaque cives potiores quam peregrini,

id. Lael. 5, 19:

Sosim et Moericum quibus tantam crederem rem, potiores habui,

Liv. 26, 31, 4:

at tu, qui potior nunc es,

happier in love, preferred, Tib. 1, 6, 33 (5, 69):

ut in judicio possessionis potior esset,

Dig. 18, 1, 34.—

Of things, better, stronger, preferable, more useful or important:

nulla potior serenda,

Varr. R. R. 1, 15:

sucus,

Plin. 36, 22, 43, § 158:

novistine locum potiorem rure beato?

Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 14:

sententia,

id. Epod. 16, 17:

mors civibus Romanis semper fuit servitute potior,

Cic. Phil. 10, 9, 19:

illi turpis vita integrā famā potior fuit,

Sall. J. 67, 3:

nihil mihi potius fuit quam ut Massinissam convenirem,

I had nothing more important, nothing more urgent to do, Cic. Rep. 6, 9, 9:

illa semper potiora duxisti, quae, etc.,

id. de Or. 3, 22, 82:

semper se rei publicae commoda privatis necessitatibus habuisse potiora,

Caes. B. C. 1, 8.— Subst.:

ut probetis potiora,

Vulg. Phil. 1, 10: hem, mater mea, tibi rem potiorem video (sc. verbis), I see a fact stronger than words, i. e. a clearer proof, Plaut. Aul. 4, 7, 12.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmus, a, um, the chief, principal, most prominent, most important.

Of persons ( poet. and in post-Aug. prose):

item huic ultro fit, ut Meret, potissimus nostrae domi ut sit,

Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 9:

tantis potissimus umbris,

Stat. Th. 4, 627:

potissimos libertorum veneno interficere,

Tac. A. 14, 65.—

Of things (class.):

utrum potius, aut quid potissimum sit, quaeritur,

Cic. Inv. 1, 12, 17:

cura,

Stat. S. 4, 4, 20:

nobilitas,

Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 25:

opusculum,

Plin. Ep. 4, 14, 10:

causa,

Tac. A. 4, 16.—Hence, adv., only in the comp. and sup.

Comp.: pŏtĭus, rather, preferably, more (class.; cf.: satius, prius): quo nos vocabis nomine? Ar. Libortos. Le. Non patronos? Ar. Id potius, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 62:

sed scin', quid volo potius, sodes, facias?

Ter. Hec. 5, 1, 27; id. And. 5, 3, 2:

nec vero imperia expetenda: ac potius non accipienda interdum,

Cic. Off. 1, 20, 68.— With quam, Plaut. Aul. 4, 2, 11:

Galliam potius esse Ariovisti quam populi Romani,

Caes. B. G. 1, 45.—When the predicates are compared, the verb in the following clause is always in the subj.:

perpessus est omnia potius quam conscios indicaret,

rather than, Cic. Tusc. 2, 22, 52:

in oratione non vis potius quam delectatio postulatur,

Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317:

privabo potius illum debito testimonio quam id cum meā laude communicem,

id. Ac. 2, 1, 3:

scribam aliquid potius, quam committam ut litterae non reddantur,

id. Att. 5, 6, 2:

nos potius nostro delicto plectemur, quam res publica nostra peccata luat,

Liv. 8, 7, 17:

per interregem comitia habenda potius, quam consulum alter a bello avocaretur,

id. 22, 23, 10; 9, 14, 16.— So with quam ut:

se miliens morituros potius quam ut tantum dedecoris admitti patiantur,

Liv. 4, 2, 8: audeo dicere hoc malo domitos ipsos potius cultores agrorum fore, quam ut armati, etc., id. 2, 34, 11; 6, 28, 8; 9, 14, 7.—But after verbs of willing, wishing (sometimes of declaring), the inf. is used:

dictatore obstinato tollere potius totum e re publicā consulatum, quam promiscuum facere,

Liv. 7, 21, 1; 23, 9, 8; 21, 13, 8: v. Weissenb. ad Liv. 2, 15, 2; Fest. s. v. olivitam, p. 202 Müll.; v. Muuml;ll. ad. loc. p. 203, a. —In an inverted order:

quam potius,

Verg. Copa, 5: quid mihi negotii est eum istis nugacibus, quam potius potamus mulsum? C. Titius ap. Macr. S. 2, 12.—Sometimes potius is to be supplied:

tacita, bona est mulier semper, quam loquens,

Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 70; id. Men. 5, 1, 26:

tamen statuit congredi, quam cum tantis copiis refugere,

Nep. Dat. 8, 1.—Pleon., with words which already express comparison.— Comp., Ter. Hec. 4, 1, 19:

Uticae potius quam Romae esse malle,

Cic. Lig. 2, 5:

favorabiliores rei potius, quam actores habentur,

Dig. 50, 17, 167.—

Esp., introducing a repetition of a thought in a corrected or strengthened form: aut potius, vel potius, or rather, or I may better say, etc.:

efficiet enim ratio ut... mors aut malum non sit, aut sit bonum potius,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 11, 23:

quam fuit imbecillus P. Africani filius, quam tenui aut nullā potius valetudine,

id. Sen. 11, 35:

erravit aut potius insanivit Apronius?

id. Verr. 2, 3, 48, § 113:

Cato magnus hercule homo, vel potius summus et singularis vir,

id. Brut. 85, 293; Dig. 1, 5, 16.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmē ( pŏtissŭ-), and more freq. pŏtissĭmum ( pŏtissŭ-), chiefly, principally, especially, in preference to all others, above all, most of all (class.).—Form potissime, Cels. 3, 6.—Form potissimum:

responde, quo leto censes me ut peream potissimum?

Plaut. Merc. 2, 4, 15; Ter. And. 2, 6, 23:

exsistat aliquis et potissimum Caecus ille,

Cic. Cael. 14, 33; id. Mur. 2, 4:

nos id potissimum consecuti sumus,

id. Tusc. 5, 4, 11:

tanta erat contentio, qui potissimum ex magno numero conscenderent, ut,

Caes. B. C. 2, 43:

quid agam? aut quo potissimum infelix accedam?

Sall. J. 14, 15; Auct. Her. 3, 2, 2; Lact. 2, 18, 3.

pŏtis (in the positive rarely declined, and in the neutr. pŏte), adj. ( comp. pŏ-tĭor, ius; sup. pŏtissĭmus, a, um; class. only in the comp.) [Sanscr. patis, lord; Gr. posis, husband; des-potês, lord; Lat. compotis (compos) potiri].

Posit., able, capable; possible (mostly ante-class. and poet.): divi qui potes pro illo quod Samothraces theoi dunatoi, Varr L. L. 5, § 58 Müll.; Macr. S. 3, 4:

nisi qui colaphos perpeti Potis parasitus,

Plaut. Capt. 1, 1, 21.—Usually in the connection potis or pote est, he, she, or it is able, may, or can:

at ea supterfugere potis es pauca,

Plaut. Capt. 5, 2, 17: neque sanguis ullo potis est pacto profluens consistere, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 38: istam non potis est vis saeva exstinguere venti, Poët. ap. Gell. 19, 9, 12:

at non Evandrum potis est vis ulla tenere,

Verg. A. 11, 148:

quod nunquam potis est sejungi,

Lucr. 1, 452:

nec potis est cerni,

id. 5, 719; Cat. 76, 24:

qui potis est?

how is it possible? id. 72, 7.—With plur.: si speres quicquam prodesse potis sunt, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 333 Müll. (Ann. v. 410 Vahl.):

duae plus satis dare potis sunt,

Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 17:

quid pastores potis sint,

Varr. R. R. 2, 2.—Without est: quis potis ingentes oras evolvere belli? Enn. ap. Diom. p. 381 P. (Ann. v. 178 Vahl.); Verg. A. 3, 671; Hor. C. 3, 17, 13.—Form pote:

si non aliud pote est,

Cat. 43, 16. Without est:

nec devitari letum pote,

Lucr. 3, 1079: viget, veget, utpote plurimum, Varr. ap Non. 2, 876:

nec non emptor pote ex empto vendito illum damnare,

id. R. R. 2, 2:

nec eniti remis pote,

Val. Fl. 4, 680; Prop. 2, 1, 46:

qui pote? vis dicam? nugaris,

Pers. 1, 56:

in te dici pote, Id, quod,

Cat. 98, 1:

nec peccatum a me quisquam pote dicere quicquam,

id. 67, 11:

hoc facito, sive id non pote sive pote,

be it impossible or possible, id. 76, 16:

quid pote simplicius?

what can be more simple? Mart. 9, 16, 2:

nihil pote supra,

nothing could exceed it, Ter. Ad. 2, 3, 11; Auct. ap. Cic. Brut. 46, 172; Cic. Att. 13, 38, 1:

quantum pote,

as soon as possible, id. ib. 4, 13, 1: quam pote, as much as possible (post-class.):

aufugiamus istinc quam pote longissime,

App. M. 1, p. 107, 9; 2, p. 119, 33.—

Comp.: pŏtĭor, us, that may be preferred, preferred; better, preferable (class.).

Of persons:

numquam edepol erit ille potior Harpax, quam ego,

Plaut. Ps. 4, 1, 17; 1, 3, 95:

quem aequiust potiorem habere quam te?

id. Stich. 1, 2, 40: qui plus pollet potiorque est patre, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 32, 69; id. Fam. 10, 3, 2:

itaque cives potiores quam peregrini,

id. Lael. 5, 19:

Sosim et Moericum quibus tantam crederem rem, potiores habui,

Liv. 26, 31, 4:

at tu, qui potior nunc es,

happier in love, preferred, Tib. 1, 6, 33 (5, 69):

ut in judicio possessionis potior esset,

Dig. 18, 1, 34.—

Of things, better, stronger, preferable, more useful or important:

nulla potior serenda,

Varr. R. R. 1, 15:

sucus,

Plin. 36, 22, 43, § 158:

novistine locum potiorem rure beato?

Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 14:

sententia,

id. Epod. 16, 17:

mors civibus Romanis semper fuit servitute potior,

Cic. Phil. 10, 9, 19:

illi turpis vita integrā famā potior fuit,

Sall. J. 67, 3:

nihil mihi potius fuit quam ut Massinissam convenirem,

I had nothing more important, nothing more urgent to do, Cic. Rep. 6, 9, 9:

illa semper potiora duxisti, quae, etc.,

id. de Or. 3, 22, 82:

semper se rei publicae commoda privatis necessitatibus habuisse potiora,

Caes. B. C. 1, 8.— Subst.:

ut probetis potiora,

Vulg. Phil. 1, 10: hem, mater mea, tibi rem potiorem video (sc. verbis), I see a fact stronger than words, i. e. a clearer proof, Plaut. Aul. 4, 7, 12.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmus, a, um, the chief, principal, most prominent, most important.

Of persons ( poet. and in post-Aug. prose):

item huic ultro fit, ut Meret, potissimus nostrae domi ut sit,

Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 9:

tantis potissimus umbris,

Stat. Th. 4, 627:

potissimos libertorum veneno interficere,

Tac. A. 14, 65.—

Of things (class.):

utrum potius, aut quid potissimum sit, quaeritur,

Cic. Inv. 1, 12, 17:

cura,

Stat. S. 4, 4, 20:

nobilitas,

Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 25:

opusculum,

Plin. Ep. 4, 14, 10:

causa,

Tac. A. 4, 16.—Hence, adv., only in the comp. and sup.

Comp.: pŏtĭus, rather, preferably, more (class.; cf.: satius, prius): quo nos vocabis nomine? Ar. Libortos. Le. Non patronos? Ar. Id potius, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 62:

sed scin', quid volo potius, sodes, facias?

Ter. Hec. 5, 1, 27; id. And. 5, 3, 2:

nec vero imperia expetenda: ac potius non accipienda interdum,

Cic. Off. 1, 20, 68.— With quam, Plaut. Aul. 4, 2, 11:

Galliam potius esse Ariovisti quam populi Romani,

Caes. B. G. 1, 45.—When the predicates are compared, the verb in the following clause is always in the subj.:

perpessus est omnia potius quam conscios indicaret,

rather than, Cic. Tusc. 2, 22, 52:

in oratione non vis potius quam delectatio postulatur,

Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317:

privabo potius illum debito testimonio quam id cum meā laude communicem,

id. Ac. 2, 1, 3:

scribam aliquid potius, quam committam ut litterae non reddantur,

id. Att. 5, 6, 2:

nos potius nostro delicto plectemur, quam res publica nostra peccata luat,

Liv. 8, 7, 17:

per interregem comitia habenda potius, quam consulum alter a bello avocaretur,

id. 22, 23, 10; 9, 14, 16.— So with quam ut:

se miliens morituros potius quam ut tantum dedecoris admitti patiantur,

Liv. 4, 2, 8: audeo dicere hoc malo domitos ipsos potius cultores agrorum fore, quam ut armati, etc., id. 2, 34, 11; 6, 28, 8; 9, 14, 7.—But after verbs of willing, wishing (sometimes of declaring), the inf. is used:

dictatore obstinato tollere potius totum e re publicā consulatum, quam promiscuum facere,

Liv. 7, 21, 1; 23, 9, 8; 21, 13, 8: v. Weissenb. ad Liv. 2, 15, 2; Fest. s. v. olivitam, p. 202 Müll.; v. Muuml;ll. ad. loc. p. 203, a. —In an inverted order:

quam potius,

Verg. Copa, 5: quid mihi negotii est eum istis nugacibus, quam potius potamus mulsum? C. Titius ap. Macr. S. 2, 12.—Sometimes potius is to be supplied:

tacita, bona est mulier semper, quam loquens,

Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 70; id. Men. 5, 1, 26:

tamen statuit congredi, quam cum tantis copiis refugere,

Nep. Dat. 8, 1.—Pleon., with words which already express comparison.— Comp., Ter. Hec. 4, 1, 19:

Uticae potius quam Romae esse malle,

Cic. Lig. 2, 5:

favorabiliores rei potius, quam actores habentur,

Dig. 50, 17, 167.—

Esp., introducing a repetition of a thought in a corrected or strengthened form: aut potius, vel potius, or rather, or I may better say, etc.:

efficiet enim ratio ut... mors aut malum non sit, aut sit bonum potius,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 11, 23:

quam fuit imbecillus P. Africani filius, quam tenui aut nullā potius valetudine,

id. Sen. 11, 35:

erravit aut potius insanivit Apronius?

id. Verr. 2, 3, 48, § 113:

Cato magnus hercule homo, vel potius summus et singularis vir,

id. Brut. 85, 293; Dig. 1, 5, 16.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmē ( pŏtissŭ-), and more freq. pŏtissĭmum ( pŏtissŭ-), chiefly, principally, especially, in preference to all others, above all, most of all (class.).—Form potissime, Cels. 3, 6.—Form potissimum:

responde, quo leto censes me ut peream potissimum?

Plaut. Merc. 2, 4, 15; Ter. And. 2, 6, 23:

exsistat aliquis et potissimum Caecus ille,

Cic. Cael. 14, 33; id. Mur. 2, 4:

nos id potissimum consecuti sumus,

id. Tusc. 5, 4, 11:

tanta erat contentio, qui potissimum ex magno numero conscenderent, ut,

Caes. B. C. 2, 43:

quid agam? aut quo potissimum infelix accedam?

Sall. J. 14, 15; Auct. Her. 3, 2, 2; Lact. 2, 18, 3.

pŏtis (in the positive rarely declined, and in the neutr. pŏte), adj. ( comp. pŏ-tĭor, ius; sup. pŏtissĭmus, a, um; class. only in the comp.) [Sanscr. patis, lord; Gr. posis, husband; des-potês, lord; Lat. compotis (compos) potiri].

Posit., able, capable; possible (mostly ante-class. and poet.): divi qui potes pro illo quod Samothraces theoi dunatoi, Varr L. L. 5, § 58 Müll.; Macr. S. 3, 4:

nisi qui colaphos perpeti Potis parasitus,

Plaut. Capt. 1, 1, 21.—Usually in the connection potis or pote est, he, she, or it is able, may, or can:

at ea supterfugere potis es pauca,

Plaut. Capt. 5, 2, 17: neque sanguis ullo potis est pacto profluens consistere, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 38: istam non potis est vis saeva exstinguere venti, Poët. ap. Gell. 19, 9, 12:

at non Evandrum potis est vis ulla tenere,

Verg. A. 11, 148:

quod nunquam potis est sejungi,

Lucr. 1, 452:

nec potis est cerni,

id. 5, 719; Cat. 76, 24:

qui potis est?

how is it possible? id. 72, 7.—With plur.: si speres quicquam prodesse potis sunt, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 333 Müll. (Ann. v. 410 Vahl.):

duae plus satis dare potis sunt,

Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 17:

quid pastores potis sint,

Varr. R. R. 2, 2.—Without est: quis potis ingentes oras evolvere belli? Enn. ap. Diom. p. 381 P. (Ann. v. 178 Vahl.); Verg. A. 3, 671; Hor. C. 3, 17, 13.—Form pote:

si non aliud pote est,

Cat. 43, 16. Without est:

nec devitari letum pote,

Lucr. 3, 1079: viget, veget, utpote plurimum, Varr. ap Non. 2, 876:

nec non emptor pote ex empto vendito illum damnare,

id. R. R. 2, 2:

nec eniti remis pote,

Val. Fl. 4, 680; Prop. 2, 1, 46:

qui pote? vis dicam? nugaris,

Pers. 1, 56:

in te dici pote, Id, quod,

Cat. 98, 1:

nec peccatum a me quisquam pote dicere quicquam,

id. 67, 11:

hoc facito, sive id non pote sive pote,

be it impossible or possible, id. 76, 16:

quid pote simplicius?

what can be more simple? Mart. 9, 16, 2:

nihil pote supra,

nothing could exceed it, Ter. Ad. 2, 3, 11; Auct. ap. Cic. Brut. 46, 172; Cic. Att. 13, 38, 1:

quantum pote,

as soon as possible, id. ib. 4, 13, 1: quam pote, as much as possible (post-class.):

aufugiamus istinc quam pote longissime,

App. M. 1, p. 107, 9; 2, p. 119, 33.—

Comp.: pŏtĭor, us, that may be preferred, preferred; better, preferable (class.).

Of persons:

numquam edepol erit ille potior Harpax, quam ego,

Plaut. Ps. 4, 1, 17; 1, 3, 95:

quem aequiust potiorem habere quam te?

id. Stich. 1, 2, 40: qui plus pollet potiorque est patre, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 32, 69; id. Fam. 10, 3, 2:

itaque cives potiores quam peregrini,

id. Lael. 5, 19:

Sosim et Moericum quibus tantam crederem rem, potiores habui,

Liv. 26, 31, 4:

at tu, qui potior nunc es,

happier in love, preferred, Tib. 1, 6, 33 (5, 69):

ut in judicio possessionis potior esset,

Dig. 18, 1, 34.—

Of things, better, stronger, preferable, more useful or important:

nulla potior serenda,

Varr. R. R. 1, 15:

sucus,

Plin. 36, 22, 43, § 158:

novistine locum potiorem rure beato?

Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 14:

sententia,

id. Epod. 16, 17:

mors civibus Romanis semper fuit servitute potior,

Cic. Phil. 10, 9, 19:

illi turpis vita integrā famā potior fuit,

Sall. J. 67, 3:

nihil mihi potius fuit quam ut Massinissam convenirem,

I had nothing more important, nothing more urgent to do, Cic. Rep. 6, 9, 9:

illa semper potiora duxisti, quae, etc.,

id. de Or. 3, 22, 82:

semper se rei publicae commoda privatis necessitatibus habuisse potiora,

Caes. B. C. 1, 8.— Subst.:

ut probetis potiora,

Vulg. Phil. 1, 10: hem, mater mea, tibi rem potiorem video (sc. verbis), I see a fact stronger than words, i. e. a clearer proof, Plaut. Aul. 4, 7, 12.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmus, a, um, the chief, principal, most prominent, most important.

Of persons ( poet. and in post-Aug. prose):

item huic ultro fit, ut Meret, potissimus nostrae domi ut sit,

Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 9:

tantis potissimus umbris,

Stat. Th. 4, 627:

potissimos libertorum veneno interficere,

Tac. A. 14, 65.—

Of things (class.):

utrum potius, aut quid potissimum sit, quaeritur,

Cic. Inv. 1, 12, 17:

cura,

Stat. S. 4, 4, 20:

nobilitas,

Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 25:

opusculum,

Plin. Ep. 4, 14, 10:

causa,

Tac. A. 4, 16.—Hence, adv., only in the comp. and sup.

Comp.: pŏtĭus, rather, preferably, more (class.; cf.: satius, prius): quo nos vocabis nomine? Ar. Libortos. Le. Non patronos? Ar. Id potius, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 62:

sed scin', quid volo potius, sodes, facias?

Ter. Hec. 5, 1, 27; id. And. 5, 3, 2:

nec vero imperia expetenda: ac potius non accipienda interdum,

Cic. Off. 1, 20, 68.— With quam, Plaut. Aul. 4, 2, 11:

Galliam potius esse Ariovisti quam populi Romani,

Caes. B. G. 1, 45.—When the predicates are compared, the verb in the following clause is always in the subj.:

perpessus est omnia potius quam conscios indicaret,

rather than, Cic. Tusc. 2, 22, 52:

in oratione non vis potius quam delectatio postulatur,

Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317:

privabo potius illum debito testimonio quam id cum meā laude communicem,

id. Ac. 2, 1, 3:

scribam aliquid potius, quam committam ut litterae non reddantur,

id. Att. 5, 6, 2:

nos potius nostro delicto plectemur, quam res publica nostra peccata luat,

Liv. 8, 7, 17:

per interregem comitia habenda potius, quam consulum alter a bello avocaretur,

id. 22, 23, 10; 9, 14, 16.— So with quam ut:

se miliens morituros potius quam ut tantum dedecoris admitti patiantur,

Liv. 4, 2, 8: audeo dicere hoc malo domitos ipsos potius cultores agrorum fore, quam ut armati, etc., id. 2, 34, 11; 6, 28, 8; 9, 14, 7.—But after verbs of willing, wishing (sometimes of declaring), the inf. is used:

dictatore obstinato tollere potius totum e re publicā consulatum, quam promiscuum facere,

Liv. 7, 21, 1; 23, 9, 8; 21, 13, 8: v. Weissenb. ad Liv. 2, 15, 2; Fest. s. v. olivitam, p. 202 Müll.; v. Muuml;ll. ad. loc. p. 203, a. —In an inverted order:

quam potius,

Verg. Copa, 5: quid mihi negotii est eum istis nugacibus, quam potius potamus mulsum? C. Titius ap. Macr. S. 2, 12.—Sometimes potius is to be supplied:

tacita, bona est mulier semper, quam loquens,

Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 70; id. Men. 5, 1, 26:

tamen statuit congredi, quam cum tantis copiis refugere,

Nep. Dat. 8, 1.—Pleon., with words which already express comparison.— Comp., Ter. Hec. 4, 1, 19:

Uticae potius quam Romae esse malle,

Cic. Lig. 2, 5:

favorabiliores rei potius, quam actores habentur,

Dig. 50, 17, 167.—

Esp., introducing a repetition of a thought in a corrected or strengthened form: aut potius, vel potius, or rather, or I may better say, etc.:

efficiet enim ratio ut... mors aut malum non sit, aut sit bonum potius,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 11, 23:

quam fuit imbecillus P. Africani filius, quam tenui aut nullā potius valetudine,

id. Sen. 11, 35:

erravit aut potius insanivit Apronius?

id. Verr. 2, 3, 48, § 113:

Cato magnus hercule homo, vel potius summus et singularis vir,

id. Brut. 85, 293; Dig. 1, 5, 16.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmē ( pŏtissŭ-), and more freq. pŏtissĭmum ( pŏtissŭ-), chiefly, principally, especially, in preference to all others, above all, most of all (class.).—Form potissime, Cels. 3, 6.—Form potissimum:

responde, quo leto censes me ut peream potissimum?

Plaut. Merc. 2, 4, 15; Ter. And. 2, 6, 23:

exsistat aliquis et potissimum Caecus ille,

Cic. Cael. 14, 33; id. Mur. 2, 4:

nos id potissimum consecuti sumus,

id. Tusc. 5, 4, 11:

tanta erat contentio, qui potissimum ex magno numero conscenderent, ut,

Caes. B. C. 2, 43:

quid agam? aut quo potissimum infelix accedam?

Sall. J. 14, 15; Auct. Her. 3, 2, 2; Lact. 2, 18, 3.

pŏtis (in the positive rarely declined, and in the neutr. pŏte), adj. ( comp. pŏ-tĭor, ius; sup. pŏtissĭmus, a, um; class. only in the comp.) [Sanscr. patis, lord; Gr. posis, husband; des-potês, lord; Lat. compotis (compos) potiri].

Posit., able, capable; possible (mostly ante-class. and poet.): divi qui potes pro illo quod Samothraces theoi dunatoi, Varr L. L. 5, § 58 Müll.; Macr. S. 3, 4:

nisi qui colaphos perpeti Potis parasitus,

Plaut. Capt. 1, 1, 21.—Usually in the connection potis or pote est, he, she, or it is able, may, or can:

at ea supterfugere potis es pauca,

Plaut. Capt. 5, 2, 17: neque sanguis ullo potis est pacto profluens consistere, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 38: istam non potis est vis saeva exstinguere venti, Poët. ap. Gell. 19, 9, 12:

at non Evandrum potis est vis ulla tenere,

Verg. A. 11, 148:

quod nunquam potis est sejungi,

Lucr. 1, 452:

nec potis est cerni,

id. 5, 719; Cat. 76, 24:

qui potis est?

how is it possible? id. 72, 7.—With plur.: si speres quicquam prodesse potis sunt, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 333 Müll. (Ann. v. 410 Vahl.):

duae plus satis dare potis sunt,

Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 17:

quid pastores potis sint,

Varr. R. R. 2, 2.—Without est: quis potis ingentes oras evolvere belli? Enn. ap. Diom. p. 381 P. (Ann. v. 178 Vahl.); Verg. A. 3, 671; Hor. C. 3, 17, 13.—Form pote:

si non aliud pote est,

Cat. 43, 16. Without est:

nec devitari letum pote,

Lucr. 3, 1079: viget, veget, utpote plurimum, Varr. ap Non. 2, 876:

nec non emptor pote ex empto vendito illum damnare,

id. R. R. 2, 2:

nec eniti remis pote,

Val. Fl. 4, 680; Prop. 2, 1, 46:

qui pote? vis dicam? nugaris,

Pers. 1, 56:

in te dici pote, Id, quod,

Cat. 98, 1:

nec peccatum a me quisquam pote dicere quicquam,

id. 67, 11:

hoc facito, sive id non pote sive pote,

be it impossible or possible, id. 76, 16:

quid pote simplicius?

what can be more simple? Mart. 9, 16, 2:

nihil pote supra,

nothing could exceed it, Ter. Ad. 2, 3, 11; Auct. ap. Cic. Brut. 46, 172; Cic. Att. 13, 38, 1:

quantum pote,

as soon as possible, id. ib. 4, 13, 1: quam pote, as much as possible (post-class.):

aufugiamus istinc quam pote longissime,

App. M. 1, p. 107, 9; 2, p. 119, 33.—

Comp.: pŏtĭor, us, that may be preferred, preferred; better, preferable (class.).

Of persons:

numquam edepol erit ille potior Harpax, quam ego,

Plaut. Ps. 4, 1, 17; 1, 3, 95:

quem aequiust potiorem habere quam te?

id. Stich. 1, 2, 40: qui plus pollet potiorque est patre, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 32, 69; id. Fam. 10, 3, 2:

itaque cives potiores quam peregrini,

id. Lael. 5, 19:

Sosim et Moericum quibus tantam crederem rem, potiores habui,

Liv. 26, 31, 4:

at tu, qui potior nunc es,

happier in love, preferred, Tib. 1, 6, 33 (5, 69):

ut in judicio possessionis potior esset,

Dig. 18, 1, 34.—

Of things, better, stronger, preferable, more useful or important:

nulla potior serenda,

Varr. R. R. 1, 15:

sucus,

Plin. 36, 22, 43, § 158:

novistine locum potiorem rure beato?

Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 14:

sententia,

id. Epod. 16, 17:

mors civibus Romanis semper fuit servitute potior,

Cic. Phil. 10, 9, 19:

illi turpis vita integrā famā potior fuit,

Sall. J. 67, 3:

nihil mihi potius fuit quam ut Massinissam convenirem,

I had nothing more important, nothing more urgent to do, Cic. Rep. 6, 9, 9:

illa semper potiora duxisti, quae, etc.,

id. de Or. 3, 22, 82:

semper se rei publicae commoda privatis necessitatibus habuisse potiora,

Caes. B. C. 1, 8.— Subst.:

ut probetis potiora,

Vulg. Phil. 1, 10: hem, mater mea, tibi rem potiorem video (sc. verbis), I see a fact stronger than words, i. e. a clearer proof, Plaut. Aul. 4, 7, 12.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmus, a, um, the chief, principal, most prominent, most important.

Of persons ( poet. and in post-Aug. prose):

item huic ultro fit, ut Meret, potissimus nostrae domi ut sit,

Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 9:

tantis potissimus umbris,

Stat. Th. 4, 627:

potissimos libertorum veneno interficere,

Tac. A. 14, 65.—

Of things (class.):

utrum potius, aut quid potissimum sit, quaeritur,

Cic. Inv. 1, 12, 17:

cura,

Stat. S. 4, 4, 20:

nobilitas,

Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 25:

opusculum,

Plin. Ep. 4, 14, 10:

causa,

Tac. A. 4, 16.—Hence, adv., only in the comp. and sup.

Comp.: pŏtĭus, rather, preferably, more (class.; cf.: satius, prius): quo nos vocabis nomine? Ar. Libortos. Le. Non patronos? Ar. Id potius, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 62:

sed scin', quid volo potius, sodes, facias?

Ter. Hec. 5, 1, 27; id. And. 5, 3, 2:

nec vero imperia expetenda: ac potius non accipienda interdum,

Cic. Off. 1, 20, 68.— With quam, Plaut. Aul. 4, 2, 11:

Galliam potius esse Ariovisti quam populi Romani,

Caes. B. G. 1, 45.—When the predicates are compared, the verb in the following clause is always in the subj.:

perpessus est omnia potius quam conscios indicaret,

rather than, Cic. Tusc. 2, 22, 52:

in oratione non vis potius quam delectatio postulatur,

Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317:

privabo potius illum debito testimonio quam id cum meā laude communicem,

id. Ac. 2, 1, 3:

scribam aliquid potius, quam committam ut litterae non reddantur,

id. Att. 5, 6, 2:

nos potius nostro delicto plectemur, quam res publica nostra peccata luat,

Liv. 8, 7, 17:

per interregem comitia habenda potius, quam consulum alter a bello avocaretur,

id. 22, 23, 10; 9, 14, 16.— So with quam ut:

se miliens morituros potius quam ut tantum dedecoris admitti patiantur,

Liv. 4, 2, 8: audeo dicere hoc malo domitos ipsos potius cultores agrorum fore, quam ut armati, etc., id. 2, 34, 11; 6, 28, 8; 9, 14, 7.—But after verbs of willing, wishing (sometimes of declaring), the inf. is used:

dictatore obstinato tollere potius totum e re publicā consulatum, quam promiscuum facere,

Liv. 7, 21, 1; 23, 9, 8; 21, 13, 8: v. Weissenb. ad Liv. 2, 15, 2; Fest. s. v. olivitam, p. 202 Müll.; v. Muuml;ll. ad. loc. p. 203, a. —In an inverted order:

quam potius,

Verg. Copa, 5: quid mihi negotii est eum istis nugacibus, quam potius potamus mulsum? C. Titius ap. Macr. S. 2, 12.—Sometimes potius is to be supplied:

tacita, bona est mulier semper, quam loquens,

Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 70; id. Men. 5, 1, 26:

tamen statuit congredi, quam cum tantis copiis refugere,

Nep. Dat. 8, 1.—Pleon., with words which already express comparison.— Comp., Ter. Hec. 4, 1, 19:

Uticae potius quam Romae esse malle,

Cic. Lig. 2, 5:

favorabiliores rei potius, quam actores habentur,

Dig. 50, 17, 167.—

Esp., introducing a repetition of a thought in a corrected or strengthened form: aut potius, vel potius, or rather, or I may better say, etc.:

efficiet enim ratio ut... mors aut malum non sit, aut sit bonum potius,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 11, 23:

quam fuit imbecillus P. Africani filius, quam tenui aut nullā potius valetudine,

id. Sen. 11, 35:

erravit aut potius insanivit Apronius?

id. Verr. 2, 3, 48, § 113:

Cato magnus hercule homo, vel potius summus et singularis vir,

id. Brut. 85, 293; Dig. 1, 5, 16.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmē ( pŏtissŭ-), and more freq. pŏtissĭmum ( pŏtissŭ-), chiefly, principally, especially, in preference to all others, above all, most of all (class.).—Form potissime, Cels. 3, 6.—Form potissimum:

responde, quo leto censes me ut peream potissimum?

Plaut. Merc. 2, 4, 15; Ter. And. 2, 6, 23:

exsistat aliquis et potissimum Caecus ille,

Cic. Cael. 14, 33; id. Mur. 2, 4:

nos id potissimum consecuti sumus,

id. Tusc. 5, 4, 11:

tanta erat contentio, qui potissimum ex magno numero conscenderent, ut,

Caes. B. C. 2, 43:

quid agam? aut quo potissimum infelix accedam?

Sall. J. 14, 15; Auct. Her. 3, 2, 2; Lact. 2, 18, 3.

pŏtis (in the positive rarely declined, and in the neutr. pŏte), adj. ( comp. pŏ-tĭor, ius; sup. pŏtissĭmus, a, um; class. only in the comp.) [Sanscr. patis, lord; Gr. posis, husband; des-potês, lord; Lat. compotis (compos) potiri].

Posit., able, capable; possible (mostly ante-class. and poet.): divi qui potes pro illo quod Samothraces theoi dunatoi, Varr L. L. 5, § 58 Müll.; Macr. S. 3, 4:

nisi qui colaphos perpeti Potis parasitus,

Plaut. Capt. 1, 1, 21.—Usually in the connection potis or pote est, he, she, or it is able, may, or can:

at ea supterfugere potis es pauca,

Plaut. Capt. 5, 2, 17: neque sanguis ullo potis est pacto profluens consistere, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 38: istam non potis est vis saeva exstinguere venti, Poët. ap. Gell. 19, 9, 12:

at non Evandrum potis est vis ulla tenere,

Verg. A. 11, 148:

quod nunquam potis est sejungi,

Lucr. 1, 452:

nec potis est cerni,

id. 5, 719; Cat. 76, 24:

qui potis est?

how is it possible? id. 72, 7.—With plur.: si speres quicquam prodesse potis sunt, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 333 Müll. (Ann. v. 410 Vahl.):

duae plus satis dare potis sunt,

Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 17:

quid pastores potis sint,

Varr. R. R. 2, 2.—Without est: quis potis ingentes oras evolvere belli? Enn. ap. Diom. p. 381 P. (Ann. v. 178 Vahl.); Verg. A. 3, 671; Hor. C. 3, 17, 13.—Form pote:

si non aliud pote est,

Cat. 43, 16. Without est:

nec devitari letum pote,

Lucr. 3, 1079: viget, veget, utpote plurimum, Varr. ap Non. 2, 876:

nec non emptor pote ex empto vendito illum damnare,

id. R. R. 2, 2:

nec eniti remis pote,

Val. Fl. 4, 680; Prop. 2, 1, 46:

qui pote? vis dicam? nugaris,

Pers. 1, 56:

in te dici pote, Id, quod,

Cat. 98, 1:

nec peccatum a me quisquam pote dicere quicquam,

id. 67, 11:

hoc facito, sive id non pote sive pote,

be it impossible or possible, id. 76, 16:

quid pote simplicius?

what can be more simple? Mart. 9, 16, 2:

nihil pote supra,

nothing could exceed it, Ter. Ad. 2, 3, 11; Auct. ap. Cic. Brut. 46, 172; Cic. Att. 13, 38, 1:

quantum pote,

as soon as possible, id. ib. 4, 13, 1: quam pote, as much as possible (post-class.):

aufugiamus istinc quam pote longissime,

App. M. 1, p. 107, 9; 2, p. 119, 33.—

Comp.: pŏtĭor, us, that may be preferred, preferred; better, preferable (class.).

Of persons:

numquam edepol erit ille potior Harpax, quam ego,

Plaut. Ps. 4, 1, 17; 1, 3, 95:

quem aequiust potiorem habere quam te?

id. Stich. 1, 2, 40: qui plus pollet potiorque est patre, old poet ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 32, 69; id. Fam. 10, 3, 2:

itaque cives potiores quam peregrini,

id. Lael. 5, 19:

Sosim et Moericum quibus tantam crederem rem, potiores habui,

Liv. 26, 31, 4:

at tu, qui potior nunc es,

happier in love, preferred, Tib. 1, 6, 33 (5, 69):

ut in judicio possessionis potior esset,

Dig. 18, 1, 34.—

Of things, better, stronger, preferable, more useful or important:

nulla potior serenda,

Varr. R. R. 1, 15:

sucus,

Plin. 36, 22, 43, § 158:

novistine locum potiorem rure beato?

Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 14:

sententia,

id. Epod. 16, 17:

mors civibus Romanis semper fuit servitute potior,

Cic. Phil. 10, 9, 19:

illi turpis vita integrā famā potior fuit,

Sall. J. 67, 3:

nihil mihi potius fuit quam ut Massinissam convenirem,

I had nothing more important, nothing more urgent to do, Cic. Rep. 6, 9, 9:

illa semper potiora duxisti, quae, etc.,

id. de Or. 3, 22, 82:

semper se rei publicae commoda privatis necessitatibus habuisse potiora,

Caes. B. C. 1, 8.— Subst.:

ut probetis potiora,

Vulg. Phil. 1, 10: hem, mater mea, tibi rem potiorem video (sc. verbis), I see a fact stronger than words, i. e. a clearer proof, Plaut. Aul. 4, 7, 12.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmus, a, um, the chief, principal, most prominent, most important.

Of persons ( poet. and in post-Aug. prose):

item huic ultro fit, ut Meret, potissimus nostrae domi ut sit,

Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 9:

tantis potissimus umbris,

Stat. Th. 4, 627:

potissimos libertorum veneno interficere,

Tac. A. 14, 65.—

Of things (class.):

utrum potius, aut quid potissimum sit, quaeritur,

Cic. Inv. 1, 12, 17:

cura,

Stat. S. 4, 4, 20:

nobilitas,

Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 25:

opusculum,

Plin. Ep. 4, 14, 10:

causa,

Tac. A. 4, 16.—Hence, adv., only in the comp. and sup.

Comp.: pŏtĭus, rather, preferably, more (class.; cf.: satius, prius): quo nos vocabis nomine? Ar. Libortos. Le. Non patronos? Ar. Id potius, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 62:

sed scin', quid volo potius, sodes, facias?

Ter. Hec. 5, 1, 27; id. And. 5, 3, 2:

nec vero imperia expetenda: ac potius non accipienda interdum,

Cic. Off. 1, 20, 68.— With quam, Plaut. Aul. 4, 2, 11:

Galliam potius esse Ariovisti quam populi Romani,

Caes. B. G. 1, 45.—When the predicates are compared, the verb in the following clause is always in the subj.:

perpessus est omnia potius quam conscios indicaret,

rather than, Cic. Tusc. 2, 22, 52:

in oratione non vis potius quam delectatio postulatur,

Cic. de Or. 2, 78, 317:

privabo potius illum debito testimonio quam id cum meā laude communicem,

id. Ac. 2, 1, 3:

scribam aliquid potius, quam committam ut litterae non reddantur,

id. Att. 5, 6, 2:

nos potius nostro delicto plectemur, quam res publica nostra peccata luat,

Liv. 8, 7, 17:

per interregem comitia habenda potius, quam consulum alter a bello avocaretur,

id. 22, 23, 10; 9, 14, 16.— So with quam ut:

se miliens morituros potius quam ut tantum dedecoris admitti patiantur,

Liv. 4, 2, 8: audeo dicere hoc malo domitos ipsos potius cultores agrorum fore, quam ut armati, etc., id. 2, 34, 11; 6, 28, 8; 9, 14, 7.—But after verbs of willing, wishing (sometimes of declaring), the inf. is used:

dictatore obstinato tollere potius totum e re publicā consulatum, quam promiscuum facere,

Liv. 7, 21, 1; 23, 9, 8; 21, 13, 8: v. Weissenb. ad Liv. 2, 15, 2; Fest. s. v. olivitam, p. 202 Müll.; v. Muuml;ll. ad. loc. p. 203, a. —In an inverted order:

quam potius,

Verg. Copa, 5: quid mihi negotii est eum istis nugacibus, quam potius potamus mulsum? C. Titius ap. Macr. S. 2, 12.—Sometimes potius is to be supplied:

tacita, bona est mulier semper, quam loquens,

Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 70; id. Men. 5, 1, 26:

tamen statuit congredi, quam cum tantis copiis refugere,

Nep. Dat. 8, 1.—Pleon., with words which already express comparison.— Comp., Ter. Hec. 4, 1, 19:

Uticae potius quam Romae esse malle,

Cic. Lig. 2, 5:

favorabiliores rei potius, quam actores habentur,

Dig. 50, 17, 167.—

Esp., introducing a repetition of a thought in a corrected or strengthened form: aut potius, vel potius, or rather, or I may better say, etc.:

efficiet enim ratio ut... mors aut malum non sit, aut sit bonum potius,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 11, 23:

quam fuit imbecillus P. Africani filius, quam tenui aut nullā potius valetudine,

id. Sen. 11, 35:

erravit aut potius insanivit Apronius?

id. Verr. 2, 3, 48, § 113:

Cato magnus hercule homo, vel potius summus et singularis vir,

id. Brut. 85, 293; Dig. 1, 5, 16.—

Sup.: pŏtissĭmē ( pŏtissŭ-), and more freq. pŏtissĭmum ( pŏtissŭ-), chiefly, principally, especially, in preference to all others, above all, most of all (class.).—Form potissime, Cels. 3, 6.—Form potissimum:

responde, quo leto censes me ut peream potissimum?

Plaut. Merc. 2, 4, 15; Ter. And. 2, 6, 23:

exsistat aliquis et potissimum Caecus ille,

Cic. Cael. 14, 33; id. Mur. 2, 4:

nos id potissimum consecuti sumus,

id. Tusc. 5, 4, 11:

tanta erat contentio, qui potissimum ex magno numero conscenderent, ut,

Caes. B. C. 2, 43:

quid agam? aut quo potissimum infelix accedam?

Sall. J. 14, 15; Auct. Her. 3, 2, 2; Lact. 2, 18, 3.

testūdo, ĭnis, f. [testa], a tortoise.

Lit., Pac. ap. Cic. Div. 2, 64, 133; Plin. 9, 10, 12, § 35; 32, 4, 14, § 32; Cic. N. D. 2, 48, 124; 2, 52, 129; Liv. 36, 32, 6; Sen. Ep. 121, 9; Phaedr. 2, 6, 5 al.—Prov.:

testudo volat, of any thing impossible,

Claud. in Eutr. 1, 352.—

Transf., tortoise-shell.

Used for overlaying or veneering, Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 144; Verg. G. 2, 463; Ov. M. 2, 737; Mart. 12, 66, 5; Luc. 10, 120; Juv. 14, 308. —

From the arched shape of a tortoise-shell.

Of any stringed instrument of music of an arched shape, a lyre, lute, cithern, Verg. G. 4, 464; Hor. C. 3, 11, 3; 4, 3, 17; id. Epod. 14, 11; id. A. P. 395; Val. Fl. 1, 187; 1, 277. —

An arch, vault in buildings (syn.:

fornix, camera),

Varr. L. L. 5, §§ 79 and 161 Müll.; id. R. R. 3, 5, 1; 3, 6, 4; Cic. Brut. 22, 87; Sisenn. ap. Non. 58, 16; Verg. A. 1, 505. —

In milit. lang., a tortoise, i. e. a covering, shed, shelter so called (cf.: vinea, pluteus), viz.,

Made of wood, for the protection of besiegers, Caes. B. G. 5, 43; 5, 52; Vitr. 10, 19 sq. —

Formed of the shields of the soldiers held over their heads, Liv. 34, 39, 6; 44, 9, 6; Caes. B. G. 2, 6; Tac. A. 13, 39; id. H. 3, 31; 3, 27; 4, 23; Verg. A. 9, 505; 9, 514 al. —

The covering of the hedgehog, Mart. 13, 86, 1. —

A head-dress in imitation of a lyre, Ov. A. A. 3, 147.

vultur ( volt-), ŭris (ante-class. collat. form of the nom. sing. vultŭrus ( volt-), Enn. ap. Charis. p. 120 P.; id. ap. Prisc. p. 683 ib.; and id. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 6, 597, or Ann. v. 141 Vahl.), m., a vulture.

Lit., Plin. 10, 6, 7, § 19; Liv. 41, 21; Verg. A. 6, 597.—As a bird of omen, Liv. 1, 7, 1. —Prov.:

vultur profert cornua, for something impossible,

Claud. in Eutr. 1, 352.—

Transf., a designation of a grasping, avaricious person, Sen. Ep. 95, 43; Mart. 6, 62, 4.

Vultur ( Volt-), ŭris, m., a mountain in Apulia, near Venusia, now Monle Vulture, Hor. C. 3, 4, 9; Luc. 9, 185.—Hence, Vulturnus ( Volt-), a, um, adj., of or belonging to Vultur:

ventus,

a southeastby-one-third-south wind, Plin. 2, 47, 46, § 119; Sen. Q. N. 5, 16, 3; Col. 5, 5, 15; 11, 2, 65; Gell. 2, 22, 11; App. de Mundo, p. 63, 14.

vultur ( volt-), ŭris (ante-class. collat. form of the nom. sing. vultŭrus ( volt-), Enn. ap. Charis. p. 120 P.; id. ap. Prisc. p. 683 ib.; and id. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 6, 597, or Ann. v. 141 Vahl.), m., a vulture.

Lit., Plin. 10, 6, 7, § 19; Liv. 41, 21; Verg. A. 6, 597.—As a bird of omen, Liv. 1, 7, 1. —Prov.:

vultur profert cornua, for something impossible,

Claud. in Eutr. 1, 352.—

Transf., a designation of a grasping, avaricious person, Sen. Ep. 95, 43; Mart. 6, 62, 4.

Vultur ( Volt-), ŭris, m., a mountain in Apulia, near Venusia, now Monle Vulture, Hor. C. 3, 4, 9; Luc. 9, 185.—Hence, Vulturnus ( Volt-), a, um, adj., of or belonging to Vultur:

ventus,

a southeastby-one-third-south wind, Plin. 2, 47, 46, § 119; Sen. Q. N. 5, 16, 3; Col. 5, 5, 15; 11, 2, 65; Gell. 2, 22, 11; App. de Mundo, p. 63, 14.

vulpes ( volp-), is (collat. form, nom. vulpis, Petr. 58; Avien. 40, 7), f. [cf. Gr. alôpêx], a fox.

Lit., Plin. 28, 11, 46, § 165; Hor. S. 2, 3, 186; id. Ep. 1, 1, 73; id. C. 3, 27, 4 al.—

Trop., cunning, craftiness:

animi sub vulpe latentes,

Hor. A. P. 437; Pers. 5, 117.—Prov.

Jungere vulpes, for any absurd or impossible undertaking, Verg. E. 3, 91.—

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores, Suet. Vesp. 16.—

Tam facile, quam pirum vulpes comest, Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 32.—

Transf.: vulpes marina, a kind of shark: Squalus alopecia, Linn.; Plin. 9, 43, 67, § 145.

vultur ( volt-), ŭris (ante-class. collat. form of the nom. sing. vultŭrus ( volt-), Enn. ap. Charis. p. 120 P.; id. ap. Prisc. p. 683 ib.; and id. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 6, 597, or Ann. v. 141 Vahl.), m., a vulture.

Lit., Plin. 10, 6, 7, § 19; Liv. 41, 21; Verg. A. 6, 597.—As a bird of omen, Liv. 1, 7, 1. —Prov.:

vultur profert cornua, for something impossible,

Claud. in Eutr. 1, 352.—

Transf., a designation of a grasping, avaricious person, Sen. Ep. 95, 43; Mart. 6, 62, 4.

Vultur ( Volt-), ŭris, m., a mountain in Apulia, near Venusia, now Monle Vulture, Hor. C. 3, 4, 9; Luc. 9, 185.—Hence, Vulturnus ( Volt-), a, um, adj., of or belonging to Vultur:

ventus,

a southeastby-one-third-south wind, Plin. 2, 47, 46, § 119; Sen. Q. N. 5, 16, 3; Col. 5, 5, 15; 11, 2, 65; Gell. 2, 22, 11; App. de Mundo, p. 63, 14.

vultur ( volt-), ŭris (ante-class. collat. form of the nom. sing. vultŭrus ( volt-), Enn. ap. Charis. p. 120 P.; id. ap. Prisc. p. 683 ib.; and id. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 6, 597, or Ann. v. 141 Vahl.), m., a vulture.

Lit., Plin. 10, 6, 7, § 19; Liv. 41, 21; Verg. A. 6, 597.—As a bird of omen, Liv. 1, 7, 1. —Prov.:

vultur profert cornua, for something impossible,

Claud. in Eutr. 1, 352.—

Transf., a designation of a grasping, avaricious person, Sen. Ep. 95, 43; Mart. 6, 62, 4.

Vultur ( Volt-), ŭris, m., a mountain in Apulia, near Venusia, now Monle Vulture, Hor. C. 3, 4, 9; Luc. 9, 185.—Hence, Vulturnus ( Volt-), a, um, adj., of or belonging to Vultur:

ventus,

a southeastby-one-third-south wind, Plin. 2, 47, 46, § 119; Sen. Q. N. 5, 16, 3; Col. 5, 5, 15; 11, 2, 65; Gell. 2, 22, 11; App. de Mundo, p. 63, 14.