I. An escort, an attending multitude, a train, retinue (in sing. and plur.).
A. In gen. (class.): “qui cum uxore veheretur in raedā muliebri et delicato ancillarum puerorumque comitatu,” Cic. Mil. 10, 28: “magno comitatu ingredi,” id. Cat. 3, 2, 6: “comitatum optimorum civium desero,” id. Att. 8, 3, 2: “praedonis improbissimi societas atque comitatus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 21, § 54; id. Fam. 6, 19, 1: “Pompeius comitatu equitum triginta ad mare pervenit,” Caes. B. C. 3, 96; Quint. 1, 2, 5; 7, 2, 45: “iter modico comitatu ingressus est,” Suet. Caes. 31; id. Aug. 98 et saep.; Verg. A. 12, 336.—*
2. Transf., of animals: “multo ceterarum volucrum comitatu,” Tac. A. 6, 28.—
3. Of abstr. objects: “pruna hordearia appellata a comitatu frugis ejus,” i. e. because they ripen at the same time, Plin. 15, 13, 12, § 41; so, “virgultorum,” id. 17, 23, 35, § 211: “quid tanto virtutum comitatu (opus est) si? etc.,” Cic. Fin. 2, 34, 111; id. Par. 2, 1, 16: “utriusque causae,” Plin. 18, 29, 69, § 283: “ferre impetum vitiorum, tam magno comitatu venientium,” Sen. Ep. 7, 6.—
B. In partic., in the time of the empire, an imperial escort, retinue, court, suite, Tac. H. 2, 65; Plin. Pan. 20, 3; Dig. 49, 16, 13; Aus. Ep. 17; Symm. Ep. 8, 9; Aug. Ep. 129: “Osthanes exornatus comitatu Alexandri,” honored with the right of attendance upon Alexander, Plin. 30, 1, 2, § 8; cf.: “deici congressu et comitatu,” Tac. A. 13, 46.—
II. A company (without the accessory idea of attendance), a band, troop, crowd, swarm: “litterae, quaecumque erant in eo comitatu, etc.,” Cic. Cat. 3, 3, 6; Caes. B. C. 1, 48; 1, 51; 1, 54; Sall. C. 45, 1; Liv. 28, 22, 4; Suet. Tib. 6 al.
