I.a blowing, breathing, snorting (mostly poet.; syn.: flamen, flabra, ventus, aura).
I. Lit.: “nondum spissa nimis complere sedilia flatu (sc. tibiae),” Hor. A. P. 205; Phaedr. 5, 7, 14: “flatuque secundo, Carbasa mota sonant,” Ov. M. 13, 418; “so of the wind,” id. ib. 14, 226; Hor. C. 4, 5, 10; also in plur., Ov. M. 15, 302; Verg. G. 2, 339: “ipsa sui flatus ne sonet aura, cavet,” of his breath, Ov. F. 1, 428: “(equi) humescunt spumis flatuque sequentum,” with the snorting, Verg. G. 3, 111; in plur.: “aestiferi,” Cic. Arat. 111: “ventris (with crepitus),” a breaking wind, Suet. Claud. 32: “flatu figuratur vitrum,” Plin. 36, 26, 66, § 193.—
B. Transf., concr., the breath of life, the soul, Prud. στεφ. 3, 168.—
II. Trop.
A. A breath, breeze (the fig. being taken from wind): “cum prospero flatu fortunae utimur, ad exitus pervehimur optatos,” Cic. Off. 2, 6, 19: “ad id, unde aliquis flatus ostenditur, vela do,” id. de Or. 2, 44, 187. —
B. Pride, haughtiness (mostly in plur.): “det libertatem fandi flatusque remittat,” Verg. A. 11, 346; Ov. A. A. 1, 715; Val. Fl. 3, 699; Stat. Th. 1, 321; 3, 192.
