I.joyful, cheerful, glad, gay, joyous, rejoicing, pleased, delighted, full of joy.
I. Lit., constr. absol., with de, the gen., the inf., or acc. and inf.
(α).
Absol.: “laeti atque erecti,” Cic. Font. 11, 33: “alacres laetique,” id. Sest. 1, 1: “vultus,” id. Att. 8, 9, 2: “dies laetissimi,” id. Lael. 3, 12.—In neutr. plur. as subst.: “litterae tuae partim laeta partim tristia continent,” Plin. Ep. 5, 9, 1.—
(γ).
With gen.: “laetus animi et ingenii,” Vell. 2, 93, 1; Tac. A. 2, 26: “laborum,” Verg. A. 11, 73: “irae,” Sil. 17, 308.—
(δ).
With inf.: “laetus uterque Spectari superis,” Sil. 9, 453.—（ε) With acc. and inf.: “laetus sum, fratri obtigisse quod volt,” Ter. Phorm. 5, 4, 1: “laeta est abs te (donum) datum esse,” id. Eun. 3, 1, 2.—
II. Transf.
A. Doing a thing with joy, cheerful, ready, willing: “senatus supplementum etiam laetus decreverat,” Sall. J. 84, 3: “descendere regno,” Stat. Th. 2, 396: “fatebere laetus nec surdum esse, etc.,” Juv. 13, 248.—
B. Delighting or taking pleasure in a thing; with abl. or inf.
(α).
With abl.: “et laetum equino sanguine Concanum,” Hor. C. 3, 4, 34: “laetus stridore catenae,” Juv. 14, 23: “plantaribus horti,” id. 13, 123.—
C. Pleased, satisfied with any thing; delighting in; with abl.: “classis Romana haudquaquam laeta praedā rediit,” Liv. 27, 31: “contentus modicis, meoque laetus,” Mart. 4, 77, 2.—With gen.: “laeta laborum,” Verg. A. 11, 73: “laetissimus viae,” indulging to the full, Sil. 17, 308.—
D. Pleasing, pleasant, grateful: “omnia erant facta hoc biduo laetiora,” Cic. Att. 7, 26, 1: “laetique nuntii vulgabantur,” Tac. A. 1, 5: “vitium laetissimi fructus,” Cic. N. D. 2, 62, 156: “virtus haud laeta tyranno,” Val. Fl. 1, 30: “militibus id nomen,” Tac. H. 4, 68.—
E. Favorable, propitious, prosperous: “venti,” Val. Fl. 4, 31: “sors,” id. 4, 540: “bellum,” Sil. 10, 552; Plaut. Am. prol. 2: “saecula,” Verg. A. 1, 605: “exta,” Suet. Caes. 77: “cujus (proelii) initium ambiguum, finis laetior,” Tac. A. 12, 40.—
F. Fortunate, auspicious, lucky: “prodigium,” Plin. 11, 37, 77, § 197: “augurium,” Tac. H. 1, 62: “laeta et congruentia exta,” id. ib. 2, 4: “omina,” Petr. 122.—
G. Joyous in appearance, delightful, pleasing, beautiful: “vite quid potest esse cum fructu laetius, tum aspectu pulchrius?” Cic. de Sen. 15, 53: “segetes,” Verg. G. 1, 1: “lupae fulvo nutricis tegmine,” id. A. 1, 275: “ferarum exuviis,” Ov. M. 1, 475: “indoles,” Quint. 2, 4, 4: “colles frondibus laeti,” Curt. 5, 4, 9.—
2. In partic., in econom. lang., fertile, rich, of soil: “ager,” Varr. R. R. 1, 23: “laeta Clitumni pascua,” Juv. 12, 13.—Of cattle, fat: “glande sues laeti redeunt,” Verg. G. 2, 520.—
3. Abundant, copious: “laeta magis pressis manabunt flumina mammis,” Verg. G. 3, 310; 3, 494: “lucus laetissimus umbrae,” id. A. 1, 441.—Of style, etc., rich, copious, agreeable: “nitidum quoddam genus est verborum et laetum,” Cic. de Or. 1, 18, 81.—Of the author: “(Homerus) laetus ac pressus,” Quint. 10, 1, 46.—
H. Pleasant, agreeable: “dicendi genus tenue laetioribus numeris corrumpere,” Quint. 9, 4, 17.—In neutr. sing., adverbially: “laetumque rubet,” with joy, with pleasure, Stat. Ach. 1, 323.— Hence, adv.: laetē , joyfully, gladly, cheerfully.
1. Lit. (class.): “auctorem senatus exstinctum laete atque insolenter tulit,” Cic. Phil. 9, 3, 7: “laete an severe dicere,” Quint. 8, 3, 40.—Comp., Vell. 2, 45, 3: “neque refert cujusquam Punicas Romanasve acies laetius extuleris,” more eagerly, Tac. A. 4, 33: “aliquid ausi laetius aut licentius,” Quint. 2, 4, 14.—Sup.: “laetissime gaudere,” Gell. 3, 15, 2.—
2. Transf., fruitfully, abundantly, luxuriantly: “seges laete virens,” Plin. 33, 5, 27, § 89.—Comp.: “truncus laetius frondet,” more fruitfully, more luxuriantly, Col. 5, 9, 10; cf. Plin. 16, 31, 56, § 130.—
