I.well-made, choice, elegant, fine.
I. Lit. (very rare): nae illi sunt pedes faceti ac deliciis ingredienti molles, Brutus ap. Quint. 6, 3, 20: “facetis victibus vivere,” Plaut. Most. 1, 1, 43.—
II. Trop.
A. Of behavior, fine, courteous, polite, gentle (very rare): “vir facetus atque magnificus,” Plaut. Most. 2, 2, 84: “mulier commoda et faceta,” Ter. Heaut. 3, 2, 11: “ut cuique est aetas, ita quemque facetus adopta,” Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 55: “est qui (ambulet tunicis) subductis usque facetus,” i. e. who thinks to be very fine, id. S. 1, 2, 26.—
B. Of speech. *
1. Elegant, fine: “molle atque facetum Vergilio annuerunt gaudentes rure Camenae,” Hor. S. 1, 10, 44; cf.: decoris hanc et excultae cujusdam elegantiae appellationem (faceti) puto, Quint. 6, 3, 20.—
2. Merry, witty, jocose, humorous, facetious (the predominant signif. of the word).
a. Of persons: dulcem et facetum festivique sermonis atque in omni sermone simulatorem, quem εἴρωνα Graeci nominarunt, Socratem accepimus, Cic. Off. 1, 30, 108: “elegantes, faceti,” id. Brut. 16, 63: “esse quamvis facetum atque salsum,” id. de Or. 2, 56, 228: “in altercando cum aliquo aculeo et maledicto facetus,” id. Brut. 47, 173: “imitatores et narratores faceti,” id. de Or. 2, 54, 219: “etiam quodam loco facetus esse voluisti,” id. Phil. 2, 8, 20: “conviva joco mordente facetus,” Juv. 9, 10 et saep.—
b. Of inanim. and abstr. things: “duplex omnino est jocandi genus: unum illiberale, petulans, flagitiosum, obscenum, alterum elegans, urbanum, ingeniosum, facetum,” Cic. Off. 1, 29, 104: “ironia faceta et elegans,” id. Brut. 85, 292: “faceta et urbana innumerabilia,” id. de Or. 2, 56, 227: “sermo,” id. ib. 1, 8, 32: “dictum,” id. ib. 2, 54, 219: “joci,” Just. 39, 2.—Comp.: Quo facetior videare, Lucil. ap. Fest. s. v. REDARGUISSE, p. 273, 10 Müll. —Sup.: “Aristophanes facetissimus poëta veteris comoediae,” Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 37: “argutiae facetissimi salis,” Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 117.—Hence, adv.: făcēte ,
1. (Acc. to II. A.) Finely, properly, elegantly (anteclass.): “hanc ego rem exorsus sum facete et callide,” Plaut. Pers. 4, 1, 7; id. Mil. 1, 1, 39; id. Stich. 1, 3, 114: “facete dictum,” well said! good! id. Capt. 1, 2, 73; Ter. Eun. 2, 2, 57; 3, 1, 37.—
2. (Acc. to II. B.) Wittily, pleasantly, humorously, facetiously (class.): “numquam tam male est Siculis, quin aliquid facete et commode dicant,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 95: “facete et urbane Stoicos ridere,” id. Fin. 1, 11, 39: “multa colligere ridicule ac facete,” id. de Or. 1, 57, 243: praeclare et apposite et facete scripsit, Gell. 2, 23, 11: “(Cicero) plura quam quisquam dixit facete,” Quint. 6, 3, 4.—Comp.: “nos ab isto nebulone facetius eludimur,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 44, 128: “disputare,” id. de Or. 2, 54, 217.—Sup.: “noster hic facetissime tres de jure civili libellos tribus legendos dedit,” Cic. de Or. 2, 55, 223: “dicere,” Plin. Ep. 1, 9 fin.: “ludere,” id. ib. 9, 22, 2.
