I.gen. plur. agricolūm in 4, 586, but reg. form in 2, 1161; 6, 1260) [ager-colo], a cultivator of land, in the widest sense, a husbandman, agriculturist (including even the vine-dresser, gardener; also one who takes pleasure in agriculture, etc.); or in a more limited sense, a farmer, ploughman, countryman, boor, peasant.
I. Prop.: “bonum agricolam laudabant,” Cato, R. R. 1, 2: “agricolae assidui,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 16: “(Deiotarus) optimus paterfamilias et diligentissimus agricola et pecuarius,” devoted to agriculture and cattlebreeding, id. Deiot. 9: “sed venio ad agricolas,” the farmers, id. Sen. 16: “agricolam laudat juris peritus,” Hor. S. 1, 1, 9: “invisum agricolis sidus,” id. ib. 1, 7, 26: “sollers,” Nep. Cat. 3: “peritissimus,” Col. R. R. 1, 11, 1: “fortunati,” Verg. G. 2, 468: “indomiti,” id. A. 7, 521: “parvo beati,” Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 139: “negotiosi,” Col. R. R. 9, 2, 5: “severi,” Lucr. 5, 1356: “miseri,” Verg. A. 12, 292; Vulg. Gen. 4, 2; ib. Jacob. 5, 7.—Of the vine-dresser, keeper of a vineyard: “locavit eam (vineam) agricolis,” Vulg. Matt. 21, 33; ib. Joan. 15, 1.— Hence,
II. Meton., of the gods, patrons, tutelary deities of agriculture, as Ceres, Bacchus, Faunus, etc.: “agricolarum duces di,” Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 4: “Redditur agricolis gratia caelitibus,” Tib. 2, 1, 36.
