I.the extreme end of a thing, the point, summit, top (syn.: cacumen, summa, fastigium, culmen, vertex); hence,
I. Lit., the small rod at the top of the flamen's cap, wound round with wool, Serv. ad Verg. A. 2, 683; 10, 270.—Hence,
II. Transf.
A. (As pars pro toto.) The conical cap of the flamen, ornamented with this rod: “QVEI. APICEM. INSIGNE. DIALIS. FLAMINIS. GESISTEI, Epitaph. Scip. Grotef. 2, 299: apicem dialem,” Liv. 6, 41: “apex e capite prolapsus,” Val. Max. 1, 1, n. 4.—Hence, of the priesthood itself: homo honestus non apice insignis, Sen. ap. Lact. 17, 6.—
B. Any hat or helmet, a crown: “ab aquilā Tarquinio apicem impositum putent,” Cic. Leg. 1, 1: “regum apices,” Hor. C. 3, 21, 20: “ardet apex capiti,” Verg. A. 10, 270; 2, 683.—Of birds, the crest, Plin. 11, 37, 44, § 121.—
C. A projecting point or summit.
1. Lit., of trees: “lauri,” Verg. A. 7, 66.—Of a headland: “sublimis,” Juv. 12, 72: “montis apex,” Sil. 12, 709; so Vulg. Judith, 7, 3.—Of the point of a sickle, Col. 4, 25, 1.—Of the summit of a flame, Ov. M. 10, 279 et saep.—
2. Trop., the highest ornament or honor, the crown of a thing: “apex est senectutis auctoritas,” Cic. Sen. 17, 60: “hinc apicem Fortuna sustulit, hic posuisse gaudet,” Hor. C. 1, 34, 14.—
D. 1.. In gram., the long mark over a vowel, Quint. 1, 7, 2; 1, 4, 10; 1, 5, 23; “Victor. p. 2469 P.—Hence, trop.: nullum apicem quaestionis praetermittere,” Arn. 3 init.—
2. The forms or outlines of the letters: “litterarum apices,” Gell. 13, 30, 10; 17, 9, 12.—Hence (per synecdochen),
E. A letter or any other writing: “apicum oblator,” Sid. Ep. 6, 8: “Augusti apices,” i. e. rescripts, Cod. Just. 2, 8, 6 fin.—
F. Of the point or apex of a Hebrew letter, put fig. for the least particle, tittle (eccl. Lat.; Gr. ἡ κεραία): “iota unum aut unus apex non praeteribit a lege,” Vulg. Matt. 5, 18; ib. Luc. 16, 17.
