I.a contest, struggle, strife, whether friendly or hostile, physical or intellectual; most freq. of a pugilistic contest of any kind; but also of contention in war.
I. A contest, struggle in games or otherwise.
A. Lit.: “videmusne apud quos eorum ludorum, qui gymnici nominantur, magnus honos sit, nullum ab iis, qui in id certamen descendant, devitari dolorem?” Cic. Tusc. 2, 26, 62; cf. id. de Or. 2, 78, 317: “Hac celebrata tenus sancto certamina patri,” Verg. A. 5, 603; cf. Ov. M. 1, 446: “luctandi,” Quint. 12, 2, 12: “saliendi,” id. 10, 3, 6: “citharoedorum,” id. 4, 1, 2: “sacra,” id. 2, 8, 7 Spald.: “quinquennale triplex, musicum, gymnicum, equestre,” Suet. Ner. 12; cf. id. Vit. 4; id. Dom. 4: “bijugum,” Verg. A. 5, 144: “quadrigarum,” Suet. Claud. 21: “pedum,” Ov. M. 12, 304: “cursus,” id. ib. 7, 792; “10, 560: disci,” id. ib. 10, 177: “Veneris,” id. Am. 2, 10, 29 et saep.—
2. Meton., poet., the object contended for, the prize, Ov. M. 13, 129: “pecoris magistris Velocis jaculi certamina ponit in ulmo,” Verg. G. 2, 530 Heyne.—
B. Trop., a rivalry, contest, struggle, emulation, etc.: “certamen honestum (Stoicorum et Peripateticorum),” Cic. Fin. 2, 21, 68: “est mihi tecum pro aris et focis certamen,” id. N. D. 3, 40, 94: “est alicui certamen cum aliquo de principatu,” Nep. Them. 6, 3: certamen honoris et gloriae. Cic. Lael. 10, 34; cf. id. Off. 1, 12, 38; Sall. J. 41, 2; Quint. 10, 5, 5: “bona ratio cum perditā confligit. In ejus modi certamine ac proelio,” Cic. Cat. 2, 11, 25: “pugna forensium certaminum,” id. 5, 12, 22: “eloquentiae inter juvenes,” Quint. 2, 17, 8: “verborum linguaeque,” Liv. 10, 22, 6: “laboris ac periculi,” id. 28, 19, 14: “amicitiae, benevolentiae,” id. 37, 53, 7: “bonae artis ac virtutis,” id. 37, 54, 19: “irarum,” id. 1, 7, 2; cf. id. 3, 39, 3: “conferendi (pecuniam),” id. 4, 60, 8: “patrum animos certamen regni ac cupido versabat,” id. 1, 17, 1; cf. id. 21, 31, 6: “leti (inter mulieres Indas),” Prop. 3 (4), 13, 19. “diu magnum inter mortales certamen fuit, vine corporis an virtute animi, etc.,” Sall. C. 1, 5; cf. Tib. 4, 1, 37.—Rarely with gen. of adversary: “si in virtutis certamen venerint ( = cum virtute),” Cic. Fin. 5, 24, 71 Madv. ad loc.—Poet.: “mite vini,” a drinking bout, Tib. 3, 6, 11.—Also poet.: certamina ponere, syn. with certamina instituere = ἀγῶνα προτιθέναι, to order, arrange a fight or contest, Verg. A. 5, 66; 8, 639; cf. id. G. 2, 530 Wagn.—Of inanimate things: “Arboribusque datumst variis exinde per auras Crescendi magnum inmissis certamen habenis,” Lucr. 5, 787.—
II. Esp., a military strife, battle, engagement, contest, fight, combat.
A. Subject. (diff. from the objective; cf.: “proeliam, pugna, bellum, etc.): horrida Romuleum certamina pango duellum,” Enn. Ann. 1, 1; 1, 476; 2, 6; 5, 1295; Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 18, 2; Lucr. 4, 844; Ov. M. 12, 180; Liv. 36, 19, 13: “aeterno certamine proelia pugnasque edere,” Lucr. 2, 117: “fit proelium acri certamine,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 28; cf.: “proelii certamen,” id. B. Alex. 16: “certamine,” with zeal, emulously, earnestly, Verg. A. 5, 197; Curt. 9, 4; Sil. 10, 536; cf.: “nec magni certaminis ea dimicatio fuit,” not severe, Liv. 21, 60, 7. —
B. Object., = proelium, pugna, etc.: “vario certamine pugnatum est,” Caes. B. C. 1, 46: “erat in celeritate omne positum certamen, utri, etc.,” id. ib. 1, 70: “bella atque certamina,” Sall. C. 33, 5: “ubi res ad certamen venit,” id. J. 13, 4: “in certamine ipso,” Liv. 2, 44, 11: “navalia,” a naval engagement, sea-fight, id. 31, 14, 4: “classicum,” Vell. 2, 85, 2: “saevit medio in certamine Mavors,” Verg. A. 8, 700 et saep.—Hence.
