margărī-tum

margărīta, ae, f., and margărī-tum, i, n., = margaritês (lithos), a pearl,

Form margarita (class.), Varr. ap. Non. 213, 30:

nego ullam gemmam fuisse, aut margaritam, quin abstulerit,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 1, § 1:

ornatus margaritarum,

id. Or. 39, 78; cf. Quint. 11, 1, 3:

linea margaritarum,

Dig. 35, 2, 26:

Britannici,

Plin. 9, 35, 53, § 105:

una pretiosa,

Vulg. Matt. 13, 46.—

Prov.: ne mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos,

do not cast your pearls before swine, Vulg. Matt. 7, 6.—

Form margaritum (rare, not in Cic.): arma margarito candicantia, Varr. ap. Non. 213, 24:

gignit et Oceanus margarita,

Tac. Agr. 12; Dig. 19, 5, 17, § 1; Tert. ad Ux. 2, 5; id. de Pall. 5; Prud. steph. 10, 648; id. Psych. 873.—As a term of endearment, pearl, treasure: Tiberinum margaritum, said of Mæcenas, Aug. ap. Macr. S. 2, 4; Petr. 63, 3.