I.that may be trusted or relied upon, trusty, faithful, sincere, true (class.; syn. fidus).
I. Prop.
A. Adj., constr. absol., with dat., or with in and acc.
(α).
Absol.: “cum et civis mihi bonus et firmus amicus ac fidelis videretur,” Cic. Cael. 6, 14: doctus, fidelis, Suavis homo, etc., Enn. ap. Gell. 12, 4 (Ann. v. 249 ed. Vahl.): “boni fidelesque socii,” Liv. 22, 37, 4; 9, 2, 5; 29, 7, 2; 22, 37, 4 Drak. N. cr.; cf.: “sociis multo fidelioribus utimur,” Cic. Att. 5, 18, 2: “est urbs Massilia fortissimorum fidelissimorumque sociorum,” id. Font. 1, 3: “fidelissima conjux,” id. Q. Fr. 1, 3, 3: “medicus multum celer atque fidelis,” Hor. S. 2, 3, 147: “minister,” id. C. 4, 4, 3: “seu visa est catulis cerva fidelibus,” id. ib. 1, 1, 27: “multorum opes praepotentium excludunt amicitias fideles,” Cic. Lael. 15, 54: “consilium,” id. Agr. 2, 2 fin.; cf. id. Clu. 31, 85: “opera,” id. Caecin. 5, 14; cf.: “operā Commii fideli atque utili,” Caes. B. G. 7, 76, 1: “cura,” Ov. H. 1, 104: “silentium,” Hor. C. 3, 2, 25: “desideria (patriae),” id. ib. 4, 5, 15: “lacrimae,” i. e. true, genuine, Ov. H. 14, 127.—
(β).
With dat.: “qui (Cn. Pompeius) unum Deiotarum fidelem populo Romano judicavit,” Cic. Phil. 11, 13, 34: “cave tu illi fidelis potius fueris quam mihi,” Plaut. Aul. 4, 2, 11: “illi fuisti quam mihi fidelior,” id. Capt. 3, 5, 58: “habere aliquem fidelem sibi,” id. Bacch. 3, 3, 87: “quem sibi fidelem arbitrabatur,” Caes. B. G. 4, 21, 7; Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 1; Quint. 11, 2, 42.—
(γ).
With in and acc.: “quam fideli animo et benigno in illam fui,” Ter. Hec. 3, 5, 22; cf. Cic. Mil. 10, 29: “in amicos,” Sall. C. 9, 2 (others read: in amicis, v. Kritz. ad h. 1.).—
b. Subst.: fĭdēlis , is, m., a trusty person, a confidant: “si quem tuorum fidelium voles, ad me mittas,” Cic. Fam. 4, 1, 2.
II. Transf., in gen., of things, to be depended upon, sure, safe, strong, firm, durable (rare but class.): “nam et doctrina et domus, et ars et ager etiam fidelis dici potest: ut sit, quomodo Theophrasto placet, verecunda tralatio,” Cic. Fam. 16, 17, 1: “in nave tuta ac fideli,” id. Planc. 41, 97: “lorica,” Verg. A. 9, 707: “portus,” Ov. Tr. 4, 5, 5: “materies terebinthi ad vetustatem,” Plin. 13, 6, 12, § 54; “structura,” Front. Aquaed. 123: “rimis explendis fidelior pice,” Plin. 16, 36, 64, § 158: “fidelissimum glutinum,” id. 28, 17, 71, § 236.—Hence, adv., in two forms: fĭdē-lĭter (class. ) and fĭdēle (ante- and postclass.).
I. Faithfully, trustily, certainly, surely, honestly.
(α).
Form fideliter: “constanter et fideliter in amicitia alicujus permanere,” Liv. 33, 35, 9: “vivere simpliciter, fideliter vitaeque hominum amice,” Cic. Off. 1, 26, 92: “obtestatur per sua antea fideliter acta, etc.,” Sall. J. 71 fin.: “aliquid fideliter curare,” Cic. Att. 15, 20, 4: valetudini inservire, Tiro ap. Cic. Fam. 16, 17, 1: “colere amicos,” Plin. Ep. 7, 31, 5: “discere artes ingenuas,” Ov. P. 2, 9, 47: “retinent commissa (aures),” Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 70; cf.: “ejus (memoriae) duplex virtus, facile percipere et fideliter continere,” Quint. 1, 3, 1: “exstincta parum fideliter incendia,” Flor. 3, 5 med.—
c. Sup.: ut is optime te laudasse videatur, qui narraverit fidelissime, Plin. Pan. 56, 2.—
2. (Acc. to II.) Surely, strongly, firmly: per quorum loca fideliter mihi pateret iter, Planc. in Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 2: “oratoris futuri fundamenta fideliter jacere,” Quint. 1, 4, 5: “quod fideliter firmum est, a primis statim actionibus arripere optimum est,” firmly grounded, id. 6, 4, 14; cf. Gell. 15, 2, 6.—Comp.: “qui quartanum passus convaluerit, fidelius constantiusque postea valiturum,” Gell. 17, 12, 3: “memoriae inhaerere fidelius,” Quint. 10, 6, 2; cf. id. 10, 3, 2.—Sup.: “fortunae inaurato fidelissime simulacro,” very solidly, durably, Plin. 33, 3, 19, § 61.
