I.a strait, sound, channel.
I. Lit.
A. In gen.
(α).
Form fretum: “fretum dictum a similitudine ferventis aquae, quod in fretum saepe concurrat aestus atque differvescat,” Varr. L. L. 7, § 22; Isid. Orig. 13, 18: “(presteres) freta circum Fervescunt,” Lucr. 6, 427: “quid de fretis aut de marinis aestibus plura dicam?” Cic. Div. 2, 14, 34; cf.: “aestus maritimi, fretorumque angustiae,” id. N. D. 2, 7, 19; id. Mur. 17, 35: “Seston Abydena separat urbe fretum,” Ov. Tr. 1, 10, 28: “fretum Siciliense,” the Sicilian Strait, the Strait of Messina, Cic. N. D. 3, 10, 24; “also called fretum Siciliae,” Caes. B. C. 2, 3, 1; v. infra: “fretum nostri maris et Oceani,” i. e. the Gaditanian Strait, Strait of Gibraltar, Sall. J. 17, 4.—
(β).
Form fretus: salis fretus, Lucil. ap. Non. 205, 30; Naev. ib. 27 (Trag. Rel. p. 12 Rib.): “angusto fretu,” Lucr. 1, 720; cf.: “ut perangusto fretu divisa servitutis ac libertatis jura cognosceret,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 66, § 169 (cf. Gell. 13, 20, 15): “in Scyllaeo illo aeris alieni tamquam in fretu,” Cic. Sest. 8, 18: inter Italiam et Siciliam qui est fretus, Varr. ap. Non. 205, 31: a Gaditano fretu, Cic. ap. Charis. p. 103 P.: angustiae fretus, Messala, ib.: salsi fretus, Licin. ib.—
B. In partic., the Strait, for the Strait of Sicily: “cum se ille septimo die venisse a freto dixisset,” Cic. Att. 2, 1, 5; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 59, § 154; 2, 2, 7 fin.; Caes. B. C. 1, 29, 1; Suet. Tib. 2; Flor. 2, 2; Hor. Epod. 9, 7 al.—
II. Poet. transf.
A. In gen., the sea (syn.: mare, oceanus, pelagus, pontus).—Plur.: “fervet fretis spirantibus aequor,” Verg. G. 1, 327: “in freta dum fluvii current,” id. A. 1, 607; cf. Ov. M. 1, 36: “pastor cum traheret per freta navibus Idaeis Helenen,” Hor. C. 1, 15, 1: “fretis acrior Hadriae,” id. ib. 1, 33, 15.—Sing.: “Euxinum,” Ov. P. 2, 2, 2: “Libycum,” id. F. 3, 568.—*
B. Of the sky: (pulvis) omnem pervolat caeli fretum, Enn. ap. Non. 205, 29 (Trag. v. 31 Vahl.).—*
C. Of the spring, as the period of transition from cold to heat: “fretus ipse anni permiscet frigus et aestum,” Lucr. 6, 364; so, “freta anni,” ib. 374 ex conject. Lachm. v. ej. annot. p. 369.—
D. A raging, swelling, heat, violence: “aetatis freta,” Lucr. 4, 1030; cf.: “fretum adolescentiae, id est secunda imperii aetas,” Flor. 1, 26: “invidiae atque acerbitatis fretum effervescit,” Gell. 10, 3, 7.
