I. A taking, seizing; that which is taken or grasped (so post-Aug. and rare): “flos (ederae) trium digitorum captu,” i. e. as much as one can grasp with three fingers, a pinch, Plin. 24, 10, 47, § 79: “piscium vel avium vel missilium,” a draught, Dig. 18, 1, 8, § 1: “bonorum,” Val. Max. 3, 3, ext. 7.—
II. (Acc. to capio, II. B. 4.) Power of comprehension, capacity, notion (this is the usu. class. signif. in the phrase ut est captus alicujus, according to one's capacity or notion): “hic Geta, ut captus est servorum, non malus Neque iners,” Ter. Ad. 3, 4, 34 (ut se habet condicio servorum, Don.); so Afran. ap. Don. ib.: civitas ampla atque florens, ut est captus Germanorum, according to German notions (ω̈ς γε κατὰ Γερμανούς, Metaphr.), Caes. B. G. 4, 3: Graeci homines non satis animosi, prudentes, ut est captus hominum, satis, for this people's capacity, Cic. Tusc. 2, 27, 65.—With pro or supra (post-class.): “pro captu,” Gell. 1, 9, 3; App. Mag. p. 277; “Cod. Th. 6, 4, 21, § 5: SVPRA CAPTVM,” Inscr. Grut. 1120, 7. —
B. Of physical power (very rare): iracundissimae ac pro corporis captu pugnacissimae sunt apes, in proportion to or in view of their bodily size, Sen. Clem. 1, 19, 2.