I. In gen., morally pure, unpolluted, spotless, guiltless, = purus, integer (gen. in respect to the person himself, while candidus signifies pure, just, in respect to other men; v. Doed. Syn. p. 196 sq.; “class. in prose and poetry): castus animus purusque,” Cic. Div. 1, 53, 121; cf.: “vita purissima et castissima,” id. Rosc. Com. 6, 17; and: “quis hoc adulescente castior? quis modestior? quis autem illo qui maledicit impurior?” id. Phil. 3, 6, 15: “perjurum castus (fraudasse dicatur),” id. Rosc. Com. 7, 21: “castissimum quoque hominem ad peccandum potuisse impellere,” id. Inv. 2, 11, 36: “nulli fas casto sceleratum insistere limen,” Verg. A. 6, 563: “populus Et frugi castusque verecundusque,” Hor. A. P. 207: “qui (animi) se integros castosque servavissent,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 30, 72; cf. id. Font. 10, 22; id. Cael. 18, 42: “M. Crassi castissima domus,” id. ib. 4, 9: “signa,” signs, indications of innocence, Ov. M. 7, 725: “fides,” inviolable, Sil. 13, 285: “Saguntum,” id. 3, 1.—With ab: “decet nos esse a culpā castos,” Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 23; so, “res familiaris casta a cruore civili,” Cic. Phil. 13, 4, 8.—
II. In respect to particular virtues.
A. Most freq., esp. in poetry, in regard to sexual morality, pure, chaste, unpolluted, virtuous, continent: “Latona,” Enn. Trag. 424 Vahl.; cf. “Minerva,” Hor. C. 3, 3, 23; Cat. 16, 5; 62, 23; Tib. 1, 3, 83; Ov. M. 2, 544; 2, 711: “hostia = Iphigenia,” Lucr. 1, 98: “Bellerophon,” Hor. C. 3, 7, 15: “matres,” Verg. A. 8, 665: “maritae,” Ov. F. 2, 139.— With ab: “castus ab rebus venereis,” Col. 9, 14, 3.—Of inanimate things: “lectulus,” Cat. 64, 87: “cubile,” id. 66, 83: “flos virginis,” id. 62, 46: “gremium,” id. 65, 20: “vultus,” Ov. M. 4, 799: “domus,” Cat. 64, 385; Hor. C. 4, 5, 21 al.—
b. Trop., of style, free from barbarisms, pure: “Caius Caesar sermonis praeter alios suae aetatis castissimi,” Gell. 19, 8, 3.—
B. In a religious respect, pious, religious, holy, sacred, = pius: “hac casti maneant in religione nepotes,” Verg. A. 3, 409 Wagn.— “So, Aeneas (for which elsewhere pius in Verg.),” Hor. C. S. 42: “sacerdotes,” Verg. A. 6, 661: “et sanctus princeps,” Plin. Pan. 1, 3: “ego qui castam contionem, sanctum campum defendo (in respect to the preceding: in Campo Martio, comitiis centuriatis auspicato in loco),” Cic. Rab. Perd. 4, 11.—Of things: sacrae, religiosae castaeque res, Varr. ap. Non. p. 267, 8: “haud satis castum donum deo,” Cic. Leg. 2, 18, 45; cf. “festa,” Ov. Am. 3, 13, 3: “taedae,” Verg. A. 7, 71 Serv.: “ara castis Vincta verbenis,” Hor. C. 4, 11, 6: “crines,” Ov. M. 15, 675: “laurus,” Tib. 3, 4, 23: “castior amnis (sc. Musarum),” Stat. S. 4, 7, 12; cf.: “castum flumen (on account of the nymphs),” Claud. III. Cons. Stil. 260: “luci,” Hor. C. 1, 12, 59: “nemus,” Tac. G. 40: “pura castaque mens,” Plin. Pan. 3 fin.: casta mola genus sacrificii, quod Vestales virgines faciebant, Paul. ex Fest. p. 65 Müll.—As epith. ornans of poetry, since it is used in defence of the Deity: casta poesis, Varr. ap. Non. p. 267, 14 (it is erroneously explained by Non. by suavis, jucundus).—
2. Hence, subst.: castum , i, n., a festival, or period of time consecrated to a god, during which strict continence was enjoined, Fest. p. 124, 25 Müll.: “Isidis et Cybeles,” Tert. Jejun. 16.—
C. In respect to the property and rights of others, free from, abstinent, disinterested: manus, Varr. ap. Non. p. 267, 12: “homo castus ac non cupidus,” Cic. Sest. 43, 93: “castissimus homo atque integerrimus,” id. Fl. 28, 68.—Adv.: castē .
A. (Acc. to I.) Purely, spotlessly, without stain, uprightly: “agere aetatem suam,” Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 149: “et integre vivere,” Cic. Fin. 4, 23, 63; id. Imp. Pomp. 1, 2.—
B. (Acc. to II. A.) Chastely, virtuously: caste se habere a servis, C. Gracch. ap. Gell. 15, 12, 3: “tueri eloquentiam ut adultam virginem,” Cic. Brut. 95, 330.—Of language, properly, correctly, classically: “caste pureque linguā Latinā uti,” Gell. 17, 2, 7.—
2. (Acc. to II. B.) Piously, religiously: “placare deos,” Ov. P. 2, 1, 33; cf. Cic. N. D. 1, 2, 3; Suet. Aug. 6.—Comp., Liv. 10, 7, 5.—Sup., Cic. Fam. 14, 4, 1.
