I.gen. plur. ferocum, Albin. 1, 275; abl. sing. feroci, Neue, Formenl. 2, 67 sq.), adj. root in Gr. θήρ, Aeol. φήρ, θηρίον; cf.: ferus, fera; cf. also Zend. dvar, to run, Gr. θρώσκω, θορεῖν, Lat. furere, wild, bold, courageous, warlike, spirited, brave, gallant, savage, headstrong, untamable, fierce, insolent (class.; syn.: dirus, ferus, durus, saevus, crudelis; immanis, immitis, barbarus, etc.).
I. In a good sense: “moechus qui formest ferox,” Plaut. Mil. 4, 9, 13: “naturā ferox, vehemens, manu promptus erat,” Sall. C. 43 fin.; cf.: “nimium es vehemens feroxque naturā,” Cic. Vat. 2, 4: “ferox naturā,” Sall. J. 11, 3: “vicimus vi feroces,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 82: Aequorum magna gens et ferox, warlike, Cic. Rep. 2, 20: “Latium,” Hor. C. 1, 35, 10: “Roma,” id. ib. 3, 3, 44: “Parthi,” id. ib. 3, 2, 3: “Sygambri,” id. ib. 4, 2, 34: “miles,” id. ib. 1, 6, 3: “Hector,” id. ib. 4, 9, 21: virgo (i. e. Minerva), Mart. 14, 179; cf. Sil. 9, 457: “loca amoena, voluptaria facile in otio feroces militum animos molliverat,” Sall. C. 11, 5; cf. id. J. 106, 3: “ferox bello,” Hor. C. 1, 32, 6; cf.: “feroces ad bellandum,” Liv. 38, 13, 11: “adversus pericula ferox,” Tac. H. 3, 69 fin.: “Triaria ultra feminam ferox,” id. ib. 2, 63: “vir nobilis ac ferox,” id. A. 4, 21.—With gen.: “animi,” Tac. A. 1, 32. —Sup.: “globus ferocissimorum juvenum,” Liv. 1, 12, 9: “auxiliarii,” Tac. H. 2, 24: “nullo adversante, cum ferocissimi cecidissent,” id. A. 1, 2.
II. In a bad sense: “equi indomiti, feroces,” Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 110: “leones,” Lucr. 4, 717: “aper,” Verg. A. 10, 711: “indulgentia ferocem fortasse atque arrogantem et infestum facit,” Cic. Att. 10, 11, 3: “dote fretae, feroces,” i. e. arrogant, Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 17; cf.: “ferox formā,” id. Mil. 4, 9, 13; Titin. ap. Non. 305, 6: “Numidae secundis rebus feroces,” Sall. J. 94, 4; cf.: “ferox viribus,” Liv. 1, 7, 5; 7, 5, 6: “robore corporis stolide ferox,” Tac. A. 1, 3: “nequicquam Veneris praesidio ferox,” Hor. C. 1, 15, 13: “sit Medea ferox invictaque,” id. A. P. 123: “animus ferox inopiā rei familiaris,” Sall. C. 5, 7; cf.: “quibus aetas animusque ferox erat,” id. ib. 38, 1: “oculi,” Luc. 5, 211: “patribus ferox,” haughty toward the senators, Liv. 7, 40, 8.—Comp.: “in bellis civilibus, victoria, etiamsi ad meliores venit, tamen eos ipsos ferociores impotentioresque reddit,” Cic. Fam. 4, 9, 3; id. Fragm. ap. Non. 305, 10: “et quia tecum eram, propterea animo eram ferocior,” Plaut. Mil. 4, 8, 13; id. Rud. 3, 1, 14; Quint. 2, 2, 3. —Sup.: “duas ferocissimas affectiones amoris atque odii coërcere,” Gell. 1, 3 fin.: “bestiae,” Vulg. 2 Macc. 11, 9.—
(β).
With gen.: “linguae feroces,” Tac. H. 1, 35: “ferox scelerum,” eager for, prone to crimes, id. A. 4, 12: “deorum Spretor erat mentisque ferox Ixione natus,” Ov. M. 8, 614: “scelerum,” Tac. A. 4, 12.—
(δ).
With inf.: “ferox est, viginti minas meas tractare sese,” Plaut. As. 2, 4, 62: “odium renovare ferox,” Sil. 11, 8.—Hence, adv.: fĕrōcĭter .
1. (Acc. to I.) Courageously, valorously, bravely: “strenue et ferociter facta in bello plura memorari possunt,” Liv. 3, 47, 2: “adequitare,” id. 9, 22, 4: “mandata edere,” Tac. A. 15, 5.—Comp.: “pauci ferocius decernunt,” Sall. J. 104, 2.—Sup.: “cum quo ferocissime pro Romana societate adversus Punicum foedus steterat,” Liv. 23, 8, 3.—
2. (Acc. to II.) Fiercely, savagely, insolently: “aspere et ferociter et libere dicta,” Cic. Planc. 13, 33: “increpare,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 58: “dictae sententiae,” Liv. 2, 55, 11.— Comp.: “paulo ferocius (exagitatus),” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 13, 2.—Sup.: “obloqui,” Curt. 10, 2 fin.
