I. That which is clear to the senses, vigor of expression, liveliness, animation; of works of art: Parrhasius primus symmetriam picturae dedit, primus argutias vultūs, elegantiam capilli, etc., Plin. 35, 10, 36, § “37: argutiae operum,” id. 34, 18, 19, § 65.—Of the quick motion of the fingers (cf. argutus): “nulla mollitia cervicum, nullae argutiae digitorum,” Cic. Or. 18, 59.—Of the chattering notes of the nightingale, Plin. 10, 29, 43, § 85.—Of chattering discourse, Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 19; id. Most. 1, 1, 2.—
II. Transf. to mental qualities.
A. Brightness, acuteness, wit, genius: “hujus (C. Titii) orationes tantum argutiarum, tantum urbanitatis habent, ut paene Attico stilo scriptae esse videantur. Easdem argutias in tragoedias transtulit,” Cic. Brut. 45, 167: “Demosthenes nihil Lysiae subtilitate cedit, nihil argutiis et acumine Hyperidi,” id. Or. 31, 110. —
B. Slyness, subtlety, cunning, shrewdness in speech or action: “sed nihil est quod illi (Graeci) non persequantur suis argutiis,” Cic. Lael. 13, 45: “cujus loquacitas habet aliquid argutiarum,” id. Leg. 1, 2, 7.—In this signif. also in the sing.: “importuna atque audax argutia,” Gell. 3, 1, 6: “levis et quasi dicax argutia,” id. 12, 2 (cf. argutiola); Pall. Insit. prooem. 1; so App. M. 1, 1.
