I.a heap, as coming to a point, a pile, a mass piled up (class.; “esp. freq. in the signif. II.): in hoc immenso aliarum super alias acervatarum legum cumulo,” Liv. 3, 34, 6; cf.: “hostium coacervatorum,” id. 22, 7, 5; 5, 48, 3: “corpus obrutum superstratis Gallorum cumulis,” id. 9, 29, 19; and: armorum cumulos coacervare id. 5, 39, 1: “caesorum corporum,” id. 22, 59, 3: “saxei,” Plin. 31, 10, 46, § 111: “eminens (aquae in poculis),” id. 2, 65, 65, § 163: “aquarum,” Ov. M. 15, 508: “pulveris,” id. ib. 14, 137: “harenae,” Verg. G. 1, 105: insequitur cumulo praeruptus aquae mons. follows with its mass, id. A. 1, 105; cf. id. ib. 2, 498. —
II. A heap added to an accumulated mass or to a full measure (cf. Paul. ex Fest. s. v. auctarium, p. 14, 17 Müll.), a surplus, overplus, accession, addition, increase; a summit, point, crown, etc., Cic. Prov. Cons. 11, 26: ut ad illam praedam damnatio Sex. Roscii velut cumulus accedat, id. Rosc. Am. 3, 8; cf.: “ad summam laetitiam meam magnus ex illius adventu cumulus accedet,” id. Att. 4, 19 (18): “cumulus commendationis tuae,” id. ib. 16, 3, 3; and: “cui gloriae amplior adhuc cumulus accessit,” Suet. Tib. 17: “accesserint in cumulum manubiae vestrorum imperatorum,” as an addition, Cic. Agr. 2, 23, 62: “aliquem cumulum artibus adferre,” id. de Or. 3, 35, 143: “magnum beneficium tuum magno cumulo auxeris,” id. Fam. 13, 62 fin.; cf. Ov. M. 11, 206: “Otho pontificatus honoratis jam senibus cumulum dignitatis addidit,” Tac. H. 1, 77: “mille equites, cumulus prosperis aut subsidium laborantibus, ducerentur,” id. ib. 2, 24 fin.: “pro mercedis cumulo,” Cic. Att. 1, 16, 5; Ov. M. 14, 472. —
B. In rhet.: “peroratio, quam cumulum quidam, alii conclusionem vocant,” Quint. 6, 1, 1; cf. id. 7, prooem. § 1; 8, 3, 88.