I.sweet (very freq.; cf.: suavis, venustus, jucundus, gratus, acceptus, amoenus, etc.).
I. Lit., opp. amarus: “(animal) sentit et dulcia et amara,” Cic. N. D. 3, 13; cf. Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 72: “mel,” id. Asin. 3, 3, 24; id. Truc. 2, 4, 20; cf.: “liquor mellis,” Lucr. 1, 938; 4, 13: “aqua,” id. 6, 890: “poma,” id. 5, 1377; Hor. S. 2, 5, 12: “vinum,” id. C. 3, 12, 1; cf. “merum,” id. ib. 3, 13, 2: “dolium,” id. Epod. 2, 47: “olivum,” id. S. 2, 4, 64: “sapor,” id. C. 3, 1, 19 et saep.—Comp.: “uva,” Ov. M. 13, 795.—Sup.: “panis,” Plin. 18, 10, 20, § 92 et saep.—Hence,
B. Subst. and heterocl., dulcia , ōrum, n., sweet cakes, honey-cakes, sugar-cakes (late Lat.), Vop. Tac. 6; Lampr. Heliog. 26; 31; Prud. Psych. 429.—
II. Trop., agreeable, delightful, pleasant, charming, soft, flattering.
A. In gen.: “dulcia atque amara apud te sum elocutus omnia,” Plaut. Ps. 2, 4, 2; cf. id. ib. 1, 1, 61; id. Truc. 1, 2, 78: “vita,” Lucr. 2, 997; cf.: “lumina vitae,” id. 5, 989: “solacia, vitae,” id. 5, 21: “orator,” Cic. Off. 1, 1, 3; cf. “of orators or writers,” Quint. 10, 1, 77; 73; 12, 10, 44; cf. “also: non quo ea (oratione) Laelii quicquam sit dulcius,” Cic. Brut. 21, 83: “genus dicendi,” Quint. 2, 8, 4: “carmen,” id. 12, 10, 33: “poëmata,” Hor. A. P. 99 et saep.: “nomen libertatis,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 63; cf. id. Att. 15, 13, 3: “auditu nomen,” Liv. 24, 21, 3: “amores,” Hor. C. 1, 9, 15: “otium,” id. Epod. 1, 8: “fortuna,” id. C. 1, 37, 11: “dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,” Hor. C. 3, 2, 13.—With dat.: “mensae dulcis herili canis,” Val. Fl. 7, 130.—Prov.: “dulce etiam fugias, fieri quod amarum potest,” Pub. Syr. 144 Rib. —Sup.: “epistola,” Cic. Att. 15, 13, 4: “quod in amicissimo quoque dulcissimum est,” id. Lael. 23 fin. al.—
B. In partic. of friends, lovers, etc., friendly, pleasant, agreeable, charming, kind, dear: “amici (opp. acerbi inimici),” Cic. Lael. 24 fin.; cf.: “amicitia remissior esse debet et liberior et dulcior,” id. ib. 18 fin.: “liberi,” Hor. Epod. 2, 40; cf. “nata,” id. S. 2, 3, 199: “alumnus,” id. C. 3, 23, 7; id. Ep. 1, 4, 8.—Hence, in addressing a person: “optime et dulcissime frater,” Cic. Leg. 3, 11; cf.: “dulcissime Attice,” id. Att. 6, 2, 9: mi dulcissime Tiro, Cic. Fil. Fam. 16, 21, 2: “dulcis amice,” Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 12: “dulce decus meum,” id. C. 1, 1, 2.—Absol.: “quid agis, dulcissime rerum?” Hor. S. 1, 9, 4.— Hence, adv. (acc. to II.), agreeably, delightfully.
(β).
dulce , Cat. 51, 5; Hor. C. 1, 22, 23; 24; id. Ep. 1, 7, 27; Stat. S. 3, 4, 8; id. Th. 4, 274.—
c. Sup.: “dulcissime scripta,” Cic. Brut. 19, 77.
