I. Becoming, fitting, seemly, proper, suitable, decorous (class.).
(α).
With dat.: “QVAE QVOIQVE DIVO DECORAE GRATAEQVE SINT HOSTIAE PROVIDENTO,” Cic. Leg. 2, 8, 20: “color albus praecipue decorus deo est,” id. ib. 2, 18, 45: “quod virginitati decorum,” Liv. 2, 13; Quint. 11, 3, 101; cf. ib. § 104, and 11, 1, 33 al.: “decorum erat tum ipsis capessere pugnam ducibus,” Liv. 2, 6; cf. Tac. A. 1, 12. —*
(β).
With abl. (after the analogy of dignus): “(facinora puerilia) neque te decora neque tuis virtutibus,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 24 (cf. id. Aul. 2, 2, 43).—*
(γ).
With ad (after the analogy of aptus, accommodatus, etc.): “nos auri venas invenimus et ad usum aptas et ad ornatum decoras,” Cic. N. D. 2, 60, 151.—
(δ).
With pro: “decorum pro causa ratus,” Tac. H. 3, 7.—(ε) Absol.: “decorus est senis sermo, quietus et remissus,” Cic. de Sen. 9, 28; cf.: “vox et actio,” Quint. 10, 1, 17: “silentium,” Hor. Od. 4, 1, 35 et saep.: “nihil nisi quod honestum decorumque sit admirari,” Cic. Off. 1, 20: “omnino si quicquam est decorum, nihil est profecto magis, quam aequabilitas universae vitae,” id. ib. 1, 31, 111; Quint. 5, 10, 40 al.: “actuariis minutis Patras accedere ... non satis visum est decorum,” Cic. Att. 5, 9; so with a subject-clause, id. ib. 4, 16, 3: “dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,” Hor. Od. 3, 2, 13; Ov. M. 9, 6 (opp. turpe); cf. ib. 13, 309 al.—
B. Subst.: dĕ-cōrum , i, n., in Cic. for the Gr. πρέπον, that which is seemly, suitable; seemliness, fitness, propriety, decorum (for which Quint. uses decor; cf.: decus init.): ut in vita, sic in oratione nihil est difficilius quam quid deceat videre. Πρέπον appellant hoc Graeci: nos dicamus sane decorum; Cic. Or. 21, 70; cf.: id, quod Graece πρέπον dicitur, decorum dici Latine potest, etc., id. Off. 1, 27 sq.; cf. id. ib. 1, 35; Tac. H. 1, 71.—Plur.: “vota pro reditu ejus et alia decora,” id. ib. 3, 47: “plura tribuere,” id. ib. 3, 5.
II. Absol., decorated, ornamented, adorned; elegant, fine, beautiful, handsome (not so in Cic.; but freq. in the poets and historians, esp. in Hor. and Tacit.): delubra deum, * Lucr. 2, 352; cf.: “aedes,” Hor. Od. 1, 30, 3; and: “supplicationes et alia decora,” Tac. A. 3, 47: “galeae ensesque,” Verg. A. 11, 194: “insigne clipei,” id. ib. 2, 392: “arma,” Sall. C. 7, 4 al.: “membra juventae,” Verg. A. 4, 559; cf.: “oculi,” id. ib. 11, 480: “pectus,” id. ib. 4, 589: “os,” Hor. S. 1, 8, 21: “facies,” id. ib. 1, 2, 87; Sall. J. 6, 1: “caput,” Ov. M. 6, 167: “juventa,” Tac. H. 1, 53: “genus,” id. A. 6, 27 al.: “palaestra,” noble, skilful, Hor. Od. 1, 10, 3: “verba,” id. S. 2, 7, 41; id. Ep. 2, 1, 73: “temporibus Augusti dicendis non defuere decora ingenia,” Tac. A. 1, 1.—Sup.: Zeus decorissimus, Apul. Mag. 4, p. 276, 4.—
(β).
With abl., adorned with any thing; shining, beautiful with any thing: “ductores ostro decori,” Verg. A. 5, 133; cf. id. ib. 12, 126: “Phoebus fulgente arcu,” Hor. Carm. Sec. 61: “Bacchus aureo cornu,” id. Od. 2, 19, 30: “Medi pharetrā,” id. ib. 2, 16, 2: “dea formāque armisque,” Ov. M. 2, 773: “satis decorus etiam Graeca facundia,” Tac. H. 2, 80.— With ab: “voces decorae ab aspectu,” Col. 6, 1.Adv.: dĕcōrē .
1. (Acc. to no. I.) Suitably, properly, decorously: “ut ea si non decore, at quam minime indecore facere possimus,” Cic. Off. 1, 31 fin.; cf. id. de Or. 1, 32, 144; 3, 47, 182; Sall. J. 100 fin.—*
2. (acc. to no. II.), elegantly, charmingly, beautifully: formata d. Jovis species, Cic. poët. Div. 1, 12, 20 (cf. above, decora delubra deum).