I. Lit., mixed, not separate or distinct, without distinction, in common, indiscriminate, promiscuous (as adj. not in Cic. or Cæs.): “opera promiscua,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 138: conubia, i. e. between patricians and plebeians, Liv 4, 2; cf.: “consulatum promiscuum patribus ac plebi facere,” id. 7, 21. multitudo, of patricians and plebeians, Tac. A. 12, 7: “vulgus,” Vulg. Exod. 12, 38: “promiscua omnium generum caedes,” Liv. 2, 30 fin.: “sepultura,” Tac. A. 16, 16 fin.: “jus,” id. ib. 4, 16: “spectaculum,” to which all are admitted without distinction, id. ib. 14, 14: “divina atque humana promiscua habere,” Sall. C. 12, 2: “privatae et promiscuae copiae,” common, general, public, Tac. H. 1, 66: “promiscuos feminarum concubitus permittere,” Just. 3, 4, 5. —With object-clause: “muta ista et inanima (sc. tecta) intercidere ac reparari promiscua sunt,” may be destroyed and restored again, Tac. H. 1, 84 fin.—In neutr. absol.: “in promiscuo licentiam atque improbitatem esse voluit,” to be universal, Liv. 29, 17; 34, 44; 40, 51: “nec arma in promiscuo, sed clausa sub custode,” i. e. in every man's hands, Tac. G. 44.—
B. In partic., in gram., epicene: “promiscuum nomen, i. e. epicoenum,” Quint. 1, 4, 24.—
II. Transf., common, usual (very rare and not ante-Aug.): “promiscua ac vilia mercari,” Tac. G. 5 fin.: “varia promiscaque cogitatio,” Gell. 11, 16, 8 (al. promiscua): “opinionis tam promiscae errores,” id. 16, 13, 4.—Hence, adv., in three forms.
A. Form prōmiscam (acc. form from promiscus), in common, indiscriminately, promiscuously (ante-class.): promiscam dicebant pro promiscue, Paul. ex Fest. p. 224 Müll.: “ut meā laetitiā laetus promiscam siet,” Plaut. Ps. 4, 5, 11: cetera promiscam voluit communia haberi, Varr. ap. Non. 361, 25.—
B. Form prōmiscē , in common, indiscriminately, indifferently (post-class.), Cic. de Or. 3, 19, 72 B. and K.; Cic. Font. 6, 12; Liv. 3, 47, 5 Weissenb.: indistincte atque promisce annotare, Gell. praef. § 2; “7, 3, 52: promisce atque indefinite largiri,” id. 2, 24, 7: “verbo uti,” id. 10, 21, 2.—
C. Form prōmiscŭē (the class. form), in common, promiscuously: (mares et feminae) promiscue in fluminibus perluuntur, * Caes. B. G. 6, 21 fin.: “promiscue puberes atque negotiatores interficere,” Sall. J. 26, 3: “promiscue toto quam proprie parvā frui parte (Campi Martii) malletis,” Cic. Agr. 2, 31, 85; id. Font. 6, 22; Liv. 5, 55; Plin. 11, 37, 47, § 130 al.