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bēlŭa (not bellŭa ), ae, f. (belua, dissyl., Varr. ap. Non. p. 201, 26) [perh. kindr. with θήρ, fera, as uber with οὖθαρ, and paulus with παῦρος],
I.a beast distinguished for size or ferocity, a monster (as an elephant, lion, wild boar, whale, etc.; cf.: “bestia, fera): elephanto beluarum nulla prudentior,” Cic. N. D. 1, 35, 97; id. Fam. 7, 1, 3; Curt. 8, 9, 29: “ea genera beluarum, quae in Rubro Mari Indiāve gignantur,” Cic. N. D. 1, 35, 97: “singulas stellas numeras deos, eosque beluarum nomine appellas,” id. ib. 3, 16, 40; cf. * Lucr. 4, 143: “fera et immanis,” Cic. Ac. 2, 34, 108: “vasta et immanis,” id. Div. 1, 24, 49: “saeva,” Hor. C. 1, 12, 22: “ingens,” id. S. 2, 3, 316: “centiceps,” id. C. 2, 13, 34 al.—
B. Esp. freq., κατ̓ ἐξοχἠν, the elephant, Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 25 Ruhnk.: “jam beluarum terror exoleverat,” Flor. 1, 18, 9; cf. Graev. ib. 2, 6, 49; Sil. 11, 543: “quis (gladiis) appetebant beluarum manus,” Curt. 8, 14, 33 al. —Hence with the epithets, Inda, Ov. Tr. 4, 6, 7: “Gaetula,” Juv. 10, 158.—
II. Sometimes, in gen., a beast, animal (even of small and tame animals): “quo quidem agno sat scio magis curiosam nusquam esse ullam beluam,” Plaut. Aul. 3, 6, 26.— The lower animals, as distinguished from man: “quantum natura hominis pecudibus reliquisque beluis antecedat,” Cic. Off. 1, 30, 105; 2, 5, 16 and 17; id. N. D. 2, 39, 99; 2, 47, 122.—
III. Trop.
A. As a term of reproach, beast, brute (class.), Plaut. Trin. 4, 2, 112; id. Most. 3, 1, 78; id. Rud. 2, 6, 59: “age nunc, belua, Credis huic quod dicat?” Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 37; id. Phorm. 4, 2, 11: “sed quid ego hospitii jura in hac immani beluā commemoro?” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 42, § 109: “beluae quaedam illae immanes ac ferae, forma hominum indutae, exstiterunt,” id. Sull. 27, 76; id. Pis. 1, 1; id. Phil. 8, 4, 13; id. Leg. 3, 9, 22; id. Off. 3, 6, 32; Liv. 7, 10, 3. —
B. Of abstract objects: “quod, ut feram et inmanem beluam, sic ex animis nostris adsensionem extraxisset,” Cic. Ac. 2, 34, 108: “amicos increpans, ut ignaros, quanta belua esset imperium,” Suet. Tib. 24: “avaritia, belua fera,” Sall. Rep. Ordin. 2, 54 (p. 274 Gerl.).
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (22 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (22):
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 7.1.3
    • Cicero, Philippics, 8.4.13
    • Cicero, Against Verres, 2.5.109
    • Cicero, For Sulla, 27.76
    • Cicero, Against Piso, 1.1
    • Plautus, Mostellaria, 3.1
    • Plautus, Rudens, 2.6
    • Plautus, Trinummus, 4.2
    • Horace, Satires, 2.3.316
    • Plautus, Aulularia, 3.6
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 4.143
    • Suetonius, Tiberius, 24
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 7, 10
    • Cicero, De Legibus, 3.9
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 1.35
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.39
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 1.24
    • Cicero, De Officiis, 1.30
    • Cicero, De Officiis, 3.6
    • Ovid, Tristia, 4.6
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 8.14.33
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 8.9.29
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