I. Prop., one who bestows care or labor upon a thing, an elaborator, cultivator, etc.: “agrorum,” Liv. 2, 34, 11; 4, 25, 4: “agri,” id. 40, 29, 3; cf. “agricultor: virentis agelli,” Hor. A. P. 117: “terrae,” Cic. N. D. 2, 39, 99: “vitis,” a vine-dresser, id. Fin. 5, 14, 40: “alveorum,” a bee-master, apiarist, Col. 9, 3, 1.—Poet., of a bullock: “pauperis agri,” Ov. F. 5, 515.—
b. Absol., a cultivator or tiller of land, a husbandman, planter, Sall. J. 46, 5; Liv. 21, 34, 1; 28, 11, 9; Quint. 2, 19, 2; Verg. A. 8, 8; Ov. M. 1, 425: “cultores (opp. oppidani),” countrymen, Tac. A. 12, 55; cf. id. H. 2, 87.—
B. Meton. (acc. to colo, I. B.), an inhabitant, a dweller: “ejus terrae,” Sall. J. 17, 7: “collis ejus (sc. Janiculi),” Liv. 24, 10, 12; cf.: “collis Heliconii,” Cat. 61, 1: “Cupua Tuscis veteribus cultoribus adempta,” Liv. 28, 28, 6: nemorum, Verg. G. 1, 14; 2, 114; cf.: “antiqui (Capuae),” Liv. 7, 38, 5: “(insularum),” id. 22, 31, 3: “caeli (Juppiter),” Plaut. Am. 5, 1, 13: “Euboicus tumidarum aquarum,” Ov. M. 14, 4. —
II. Trop. (acc. to colo, II. A. and B.).
A. A fosterer, supporter: “bonorum (with fautor),” Liv. 9, 46, 13: “fidissimus imperii Romani (Hiero),” id. 26, 32, 4: “juvenum,” a tutor, teacher, Pers. 5, 63: “veritatis, fraudis inimici,” Cic. Off. 1, 30, 109; cf. “aequi,” Ov. M. 5, 100: “juris et aequarum legum,” Mart. 10, 37, 1: “amicitiae,” Liv. 25, 28, 8; Mart. 9, 84, 4.—
B. A worshipper, reverencer: “deorum,” Hor. C. 1, 34, 1: “numinis,” Ov. M. 1, 327: “diligentissimus religionum,” Liv. 5, 50, 1.—Also absol., Verg. A. 11, 788.—Hence, in later relig. lang., a priest of some deity: “deūm matris,” a priest of Cybele, Suet. Oth. 8; cf. Inscr. Orell. 938; 1578.
