I. Milit. t. t.
A. Orig., the troops stationed in reserve in the third line of battle (behind the principes), the line of reserve, reserve-ranks, triarii: “subsidium dicebatur, quando milites subsidebant in extremā acie labentique aciei succurrebant. Quod genus militum constabat ex iis, qui emeruerant stipendia, locum tamen retinebant in exercitu: quae erat tertia acies triariorum,” Fest. p. 306 Müll.; cf.: “subsidium, quod postpositum est ad subveniendum laborantibus,” id. p. 223 ib.: “triarii quoque dicti, quod in acie tertio ordine extremis subsidio deponebantur: quod hi subsidebant, ab eo subsidium dictum,” Varr. L. L. 5, § 89 ib. (very rare): “subsidia et secundam aciem adortus,” Liv. 4, 28: “jaculatores fugerunt inter subsidia ad secundam aciem,” id. 21, 46: “impulsa frons prima et trepidatio subsidiis illata,” id. 6, 13: “in subsidiis pugnacissimas locaverunt gentes,” Curt. 3, 9, 3: “in subsidiis positi,” id. 4, 13, 28.—
B. A body of reserve, an auxiliary corps, auxiliary forces, etc. (class.; syn.: suppetiae, auxilium): duae cohortes de subsidio procedunt, Sisenn. ap. Non. 363, 18: “rem esse in angusto vidit, neque ullum esse subsidium, quod submitti posset,” Caes. B. G. 2, 25: “neque certa subsidia collocari poterant,” id. ib. 2, 22: “cohortes veteranas in fronte, post eas ceterum exercitum in subsidiis locat,” stationed as a reserve, Sall. C. 59, 5.—
C. Abstr., support in battle, aid, help, relief, succor, assistance: “cum alius alii subsidium ferrent,” Caes. B. G. 2, 26: “funditores Baleares subsidio oppidanis mittit,” id. ib. 2, 7: “missi in subsidium equites,” Tac. A. 12, 55: “Italiae subsidio proficisci,” Caes. B. C. 3, 78; cf. Cic. Phil. 5, 17, 46: “integros subsidio adducit,” Caes. B. G. 7, 87: “subsidio venire,” Cic. Att. 8, 7, 1: “commune in Germanos Gallosque subsidium, octo legiones erant,” Tac. A. 4, 5.—
II. Transf., in gen., support, assistance, aid, help, protection, etc. (syn. adjumentum).
(α).
Sing.: “abi quaerere, ubi jurando tuo satis sit subsidii,” Plaut. Cist. 2, 1, 26: “mihi hoc subsidium (sc. juris interpretationem) jam inde ab adulescentia comparavi,” Cic. de Or. 1, 45 199; cf.: ut illud subsidium (sc. bibliothe cam) senectuti parem, id. Att. 12, 3, 52: “subsidium bellissimum existimo senectuti otium,” id. de Or. 1, 60, 255; cf. id. Quint. 1, 4: “sine talium virorum subsidio resistere,” id. Clu. 1, 3: “his difficultatibus duae res erant subsidio,” Caes. B. G. 2, 20: “fidissimum annonae subsidium,” Liv. 27, 5: “aurum ad subsidium fortunae relictum,” id. 22, 32: “non aliud subsidium quam misericordia Caesaris fuit,” Tac. A. 2, 63: “nec tibi subsidio sit praesens numen,” Ov. Ib. 285.—
(β).
Plur.: “industriae subsidia,” Cic. Cat. 2, 5, 9: “frumentaria subsidia rei publicae,” id. Imp. Pomp. 12, 34: “sibi subsidia ad omnes vitae status parare,” id. Fam. 9, 6, 4: “his ego subsidiis ea sum consecutus,” id. ib. 15, 4, 14; Suet. Calig. 12: “ad omnes casus subsidia comparare,” to prepare resources, make provision, Caes. B. G. 4, 31: “mare circa Capreas importuosum et vix modicis navigiis pauca subsidia,” Tac. A. 4, 67.
