I. A whirl, eddy, whirlpool, vortex: secundo modo dicitur proprium inter plura, quae sunt ejusdem nominis, id, unde cetera ducta sunt: ut vertex est contorta in se aqua vel quicquid aliud similiter vertitur: inde propter flexum capillorum pars summa capitis; “ex hoc id, quod in montibus eminentissimum. Recte dixeris haec omnia vertices, proprie tamen, unde initium est,” Quint. 8, 2, 7: “ut aquae circumlatae in se sorbeantur et vorticem efficiant,” Sen. Q. N. 5, 13, 2: “torto vertice torrens,” Verg. A. 7, 567: “illam ... rapidus vorat aequore vertex,” id. ib. 1, 117: “(flumen) minores volvere vertices,” Hor. C. 2, 9, 22; Ov. M. 5, 587; 8, 556; 9, 106; id. F. 6, 502; Sil. 4, 230: “citatior solito amnis transverso vertice dolia inpulit ad ripam,” Liv. 23, 19, 11; 28, 30, 11; Curt. 6, 13, 16.—
B. Trop.: “amoris,” Cat. 68, 107: “officiorum,” Sen. Ep. 82, 2: “quā medius pugnae vocat agmina vertex,” Sil. 4, 230.—
II. An eddy of wind or flame, a whirlwind, coil of flame: “(venti) interdum vertice torto Corripiunt rapideque rotanti turbine portant,” Lucr. 1, 293; 6, 444; Liv. 21, 58, 3: “extemplo cadit igneus ille Vertex,” Lucr. 6, 298; Verg. A. 12, 673; cf.: “ventus saepius in se volutatur, similemque illis, quas diximus converti aquas, facit vorticem,” Sen. Q. N. 5, 13, 2. —
III. The top or crown of the head.
A. Lit.: “ab imis unguibus usque ad verticem summum,” Cic. Rosc. Com. 7, 20; cf. Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 4; Plin. 11, 37, 48, § 132; Hor. C. 1, 1, 36; Ov. M. 12, 288; 2, 712; id. P. 3, 8, 12; Quint. 8, 2, 7; 1, 11, 10.—
B. Transf.
1. The head (poet.) Cat. 64, 63; 64, 310: “toto vertice supra est,” Verg. A. 7, 784: “nudus,” id. ib. 11, 642: “moribundus,” Ov. M. 5, 84: “intonsus,” Stat. Th. 6, 607; Val. Fl. 4, 307.—
2. The pole of the heavens, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 41, 105; id. Rep. 6, 20, 21; Verg. G. 1, 242. —
3. The highest point, top, peak, summit of a mountain, house, tree, etc.: “ignes, qui ex Aetnae vertice erumpunt,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 106; Quint. 8, 3, 48; Lucr. 6, 467; Tib. 1, 7, 15; Ov. M. 1. 316; 13, 911; Petr. poët. 122; 134 fin.; Curt. 8, 3, 26: “in Erycino vertice,” Verg. A. 5, 759; Val. Fl. 1, 700: “arcis,” Lucr. 6, 750: “domus,” Mart. 8, 36, 11; cf. Hor. C. 4, 11, 12: “theatri,” Mart. 10, 19, 7: “quercūs,” Verg. A. 3, 679: “pinūs,” Ov. M. 10, 103.—Hence, a vertice, from above, down from above, Verg. G. 2, 310; id. A. 1, 114; 5, 444.—