Cicero, Pro Caelio: Vocabulary

Essential Latin vocabulary cards covering key lemmas and definitions from Cicero's speech Pro Caelio.

abavus, abavi m.

ancestor, forefather

abduco, abducere, abduxi, abductum

lead away, carry off; detach, attract away, entice, seduce, charm

abhorreo, abhorrere, abhorrui

abhor, shrink back; be averse to, shudder at

absolvo, absolvere, absolvi, absolutum

free (bonds), release; acquit

accommodo, accommodare, accommodavi, accommodatum

adapt, adjust to, fit, suit; apply to, fasten on

accusatio, accusationis f.

accusation, inditement; act/occasion of accusation

adulescentia, adulescentiae f.

youth, young manhood; characteristic of being young, youthfulness

adulterium, adulteri n.

adultery; blending/mixing of different strains/ingredients

aerarium, aerari n.

treasury, its funds

ambitus, ambitus m.

circuit; electoral bribery

animadverto, animadvertere, animadverti, animadversum

pay attention to, attend to; notice, observe

argumentum, argumenti n.

proof; evidence, fact

aspernor, aspernari, aspernatus sum

despise, scorn, disdain; spurn, push away, repel, reject

auctoritas, auctoritatis f.

authority, influence, prestige

audacia, audaciae f.

boldness; recklessness, audacity

aulaeum, aulaei n.

canopy/covering; theater curtain

balneator, balneatoris m.

bath-attendant; keeper of a bathhouse

barbatus, barbata, barbatum

bearded, having a beard; (like the men of antiquity)

barbula, barbulae f.

little beard (as worn by young Romans)

blandimentum, blandimenti n.

blandishment, coaxing/wheedling behavior, cajolery; favors

brevitas, brevitatis f.

shortness, smallness, narrowness; brevity, conciseness, terseness

caedes, caedis f.

murder/slaughter/massacre; assassination

calliditas, calliditatis f.

shrewdness, skillfulness, skill; craftiness, cunning

castimonia, castimoniae f.

chastity, abstinence, ceremonial purity/purification

celebritas, celebritatis f.

crowded conditions, crowding, multitude; fame, renown, reputation

clausula, clausulae f.

end/conclusion (letter/verse/transaction); close (periodic sentence)

cohaereo, cohaerere, cohaesi, cohaesum

stick/cling/hold/grow together, adhere; embrace

comissatio, comissationis f.

carousing, merry-making, feasting, revelry

comitium, comiti n.

place of assembly; (pl.) elections, assembly

commenticius, commenticia, commenticium

invented, devised, improvised; imaginary

concrepo, concrepare, concrepui, concrepitum

make noise (door), grate/creak; sound, crash/clash, rattle

condicio, condicionis f.

agreement/contract; terms, proposal/option/alternative

coniectura, coniecturae f.

inference, conjecture, guesswork

coniuratio, coniurationis f.

conspiracy, plot, intrigue; alliance

coniveo, conivere, conivi (conixi)

close/screw up the eyes, blink

conroboro, conroborare, conroboravi, conroboratum

strengthen, harden, reinforce; corroborate

consceleratus, conscelerata, consceleratum

wicked, depraved; criminal

continentia, continentiae f.

restraint/self-control/abstinence/holding back/repression (passion/appetite)

contubernalis, contubernalis m.

tent mate, comrade-in-arms; staff trainee

contumelia, contumeliae f.

indignity, affront, abuse/insult; insulting language/behavior

convicium, convici n.

noise (angry), chatter/outcry/clamor/bawling; noise source

corruptela, corruptelae f.

corruption/bribery/suborning; corrupting/perverting influence

damnatio, damnationis f.

condemnation (in a court of law); obligation under a will

defervesco, defervescere, defervi

come to full boil; cease boiling, cool off (fermentation)

defloresco, deflorescere, deflorui

drop/shed blossoms/petals (before bearing fruit)

deliciae, deliciarum f. pl.

pleasure/delight/fun (usu. pl.), activity affording enjoyment, luxuries

delitisco, delitiscere, delitui

hide, go in hiding/seclusion; withdraw

deprehendo, deprehendere, deprehendi, deprehensum

seize/catch; catch napping/redhanded

disceptator, disceptatoris m.

arbitrator

discidium, discidi n.

separation, divorce, discord; disagreement, quarrel

disertus, diserta, disertum

eloquent; skillfully expressed

ecfringo (effringo), ecfringere, ecfregi, ecfractum

break open, smash

effrenatus, effrenata, effrenatum

unbridled; unrestrained, unruly, headstrong, violent

erubesco, erubescere, erubui

redden, blush, blush at; blush for shame, be ashamed of

exordior, exordiri, exorsus sum

begin, commence

expromo, expromere, exprompsi, expromptum

bring/take out (from store), put out; put to use, put in play

fabella, fabellae f.

story, fable; play

facetus, faceta, facetum

witty, clever, elegant

facinerosus, facinerosa, facinerosum

wicked, criminal; villainous

faenus, faenoris n.

interest (on capital), usury; profit, gain

flagitium, flagiti n.

shame, disgrace; scandal, shameful act, outrage, disgraceful thing

foedus, foederis n.

treaty, league, formal agreement (between states), alliance

fretus, freta, fretum

relying on, trusting to, supported by (w/ABL)

gratificor, gratificari, gratificatus sum

oblige, gratify, humor, show kindness to; bestow, make a present of

gurges, gurgitis m.

whirlpool; raging abyss

hercule (interj.)

by Hercules!; assuredly, indeed

humanitas, humanitatis f.

human nature/character/feeling; kindness/courtesy

immanitas, immanitatis f.

brutality, savage character, frightfulness; huge/vast size

impudicitia, impudicitiae f.

sexual impurity, unchastity

incontinentia, incontinentiae f.

lack of self-control

inlecebra, inlecebrae f.

allurement, attraction, charm; a decoy bird

insidiae, insidiarum f. pl.

ambush/ambuscade (pl.); plot

intemperantia, intemperantiae f.

extravagance, excess, lack of self-control/restraint; violence

invidiosus, invidiosa, invidiosum

arousing hatred/odium/envy; odious, invidious

iurgium, iurgi n.

quarrel/dispute/strife; abuse/vituperation/invective

largitio, largitionis f.

generosity, lavish giving, largess; bribery

libidinosus, libidinosa, libidinosum

lustful, wanton; capricious

lustrum, lustri n.

purifying/cleansing ceremony; (by censors every 5 years)

lychnus, lychni m.

lamp (esp. one hung from the ceiling)

maiestas, maiestatis f.

majesty, dignity (of god/rank/position); majesty of people/state

maledictum, maledicti n.

insult, reproach, taunt

meretricius, meretricia, meretricium

of a courtesan, meretricious

meretrix, meretricis f.

courtesan, kept woman; public prostitute

mimus, mimi m.

mime; farce

mulierarius, mulieraria, mulierarium

womanish

municipium, municipi n.

municipality, town; town subject to Rome but under its own laws

nefarius, nefaria, nefarium

wicked, evil, offending moral law; criminal, abominable

obiurgatio, obiurgationis f.

rebuke, reproof

obsolesco, obsolescere, obsolevi, obsoletum

fall into disuse, be forgotten about

osculatio, osculationis f.

kissing; action of kissing

otiosus, otiosa, otiosum

at leisure, idle; uninvolved in public life

palla, pallae f.

palla, a lady's outer garment

pastoricius, pastoricia, pastoricium

of/connected with herdsmen

peroro, perorare, peroravi, peroratum

deliver the final part of a speech, conclude

petulantia, petulantiae f.

impudent or boisterous aggressiveness; wantonness, immodesty

praevaricatio, praevaricationis f.

collusion; transgression

probrum, probri n.

disgrace; abuse, insult

protervitas, protervitatis f.

impudence; boldness

pusio, pusionis m.

boy; little boy

pyxis, pyxidis f.

small box, casket