I. A mature deliberation, consideration, consultation.
A. In gen. (rare but class.).
1. Abstr., * Ter. Hec. 4, 4, 28; Cic. de Or. 2, 33, 142; id. Inv. 2, 25, 76 fin.; id. Off. 3, 12, 50; Suet. Ner. 41 al.—With ne: “per aliquot dies tenuit ea consultatio, ne non reddita bona belli causā ... essent,” Liv. 2, 3, 5. —In plur., Sall. J. 27, 2.—
2. Concr., a subject of consultation: “copiose de consultationibus suis disputare,” Cic. Top. 17, 66. —
B. Esp., rhet. t. t.
1. A case proposed for decision, an inquiry concerning a case in law: “consultationem proponere,” Quint. 3, 8, 59: “cum apud C. Caesarem consultatio de poenā Theodoti proponitur,” id. 3, 8, 55; Dig. 31, 35.—
2. A general inquiry upon a subject, a consideration of a principle, = quaestio infinita (opp.: “definita controversia certis temporibus ac reis),” Cic. de Or. 3, 28, 109: “sive in infinitis consultationibus disceptatur, sive in iis causis quae in civitate et forensi disceptatione versantur,” id. ib. 3, 29, 111; id. Part. Or. 1, 4; id. Off. 3, 7, 33; id Att. 9, 4, 1 sqq.—
II. An asking of advice, inquiry (rare).
A. Abstr.: “tuas litteras exspecto, ut sciam, quid respondeant consultationi meae,” Cic. Att. 8, 4, 3: “honesta consultatio, non expedita sententia,” Plin. Ep. 7, 18, 1: “redeunt illi sermones, illae consultationes,” id. ib. 8, 23, 6.—So of the questioning of the emperor by the prætor, an asking for instructions: “visa est enim mihi res digna consultatione,” Plin. Ep. 10, 96 (97), 9; Dig. 4, 4, 11.—
B. Concr., the inquiry addressed to an oracle (transl. of πεῦσις), Macr. S. 1, 17, 50.—Plur.: “de consultationibus in Aponi fontem talos aureos jacere,” Suet. Tib. 14.