I. Lit. (the bearing, i. e. motion of the body, or of a part of the body, esp. of the hand or arm), carriage, posture, attitude, motion, gesture (class.; cf. actus).
A. In gen.: “gestum imitari,” Lucr. 4, 343; cf. ib. 367: “a forma removeatur omnis viro non dignus ornatus, et huic simile vitium in gestu motuque caveatur,” Cic. Off. 1, 36, 130: “nunc gestus mihi vultusque est capiundus novus,” Ter. Phorm. 5, 6, 50: “hoc quidem Zeno gestu conficiebat,” Cic. Ac. 2, 47, 145: “gratificatur mihi gestu accusator,” id. Balb. 6, 14: “gestum manus Ceycis habebat,” Ov. M. 11, 673: “ab avium gestu gestuque,” motion, Suet. Aug. 7: “quo gestu gallina secetur,” Juv. 5, 124.—Plur.: nec flecti cervix nec brachia reddere gestus, Nec pes ire potest, Ov. M. 6, 308.—
B. In partic., a gesture, gesticulation of actors or orators according to the rules of art: “numquam agit hunc versum Roscius eo gestu, quo potest, sed abjicit prorsus,” Cic. de Or. 3, 26, 102; cf. id. Quint. 24, 77: “gestus histrionis,” id. Att. 6, 1, 8: “convenit igitur in gestu nec venustatem conspiciendam nec turpitudinem esse, ne aut histriones aut operarii videamur esse,” Auct. Her. 3, 15, 26; cf.: “vox et gestus subito sumi et aliunde arripi non potest,” Cic. de Or. 1, 59, 252: “omnis actio in duas partes divisa, vocem gestumque,” Quint. 11, 3, 14; id. 2, 59, 242: “tardiore et consideratiore gestu uti,” Auct. Her. 3, 15, 27: jactantior, Cael. ap. Quint. 11, 1, 51: “acer atque instans,” Quint. 11, 3, 92: “certus sed paulo productior,” id. ib.: “comicus magis quam oratorius,” id. ib. 125 et saep.—Plur.: “histrionum nonnulli gestus ineptiis non vacant,” Cic. Off. 1, 36, 130: “alterni,” Quint. 6, 3, 65: “breves,” id. 11, 3, 100: quae (concinnitas) verborum collocationem illuminat his luminibus, quae Graeci quasi aliquos gestus orationis σχήματα appellant, Cic. Or. 25, 83; Quint. 9, 1, 13; “and without quasi,” Gell. 11, 13, 10: “Urbicus risum movet gestibus Autonoes,” Juv. 6, 72.—
II. (Acc. to gero, II. B. 3.) A management, administration (post-class.), Dig. 26, 10, 3, § 9; ib. 7, 23; ib. 5, § 2.
