I.fem., Lucil. ap. Charis. p. 72 P.; Lucr. 2, 662; Inscr. ap. Maff. Mus. Veron. 127, 4) [Sanscr. root jar-, come together; Gr. ἀγείρω, ἀγορά], a flock, herd, drove, swarm (cf.: armentum, jumentum, pecus).
I. Lit., of animals: “pecudes dispulsae sui generis sequuntur greges,” Cic. Att. 7, 7, 7; cf.: “greges armentorum reliquique pecoris,” id. Phil. 3, 12, 31: “nobilissimarum equarum,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 7, § 20: “asinorum,” Varr. R. R. 2, 6, 2: “lanigeri,” Verg. G. 3, 287: “vir gregis ipse caper,” id. E. 7, 7; cf.: “dux gregis,” i. e. a bull, Ov. A. A. 1, 326: “elephantorum,” Plin. 5, 1, 1, § 5: “porcorum,” Juv. 2, 80: “pavonum,” Varr. R. R. 3, 6, 2: “anserum,” id. ib. 3, 10, 1: “anatum,” id. ib. 3, 11, 1: “avium,” Hor. Ep. 1, 3, 19.—Opp. to armenta, of small cattle: “non ego sum pastor, non hic armenta gregesve,” Ov. M. 1, 513; 4, 635; Tib. 1, 5, 28.—Prov.: “grex totus in agris Unius scabie cadit,” Juv. 2, 79. —
II. Transf.
A. Of a number of persons, in a good or bad sense, a company, society, troop, band, crowd.
1. In gen.: “in hunc igitur gregem P. Sullam ex his honestissimorum hominum gregibus reicietis?” Cic. Sull. 28, 77: “amicorum,” id. Att. 1, 18, 1; cf.: “scribe tui gregis hunc,” i. e. receive him into the number of your friends, Hor. Ep. 1, 9, 13: “philosophorum,” Cic. de Or. 1, 10, 42: “ille virorum (of the Fabians),” Sil. 7, 58: “Cethegus libertos suos orabat, uti grege facto cum telis ad se irrumperent,” i. e. in a body, Sall. C. 50, 2; id. J. 58, 3: “quos respexit rex grege facto venientes,” Liv. 8, 24, 13: “ne servi quidem uno grege profugiunt dominos,” i. e. all together, Curt. 10, 2, 12: “ego forsitan propter multitudinem patronorum in grege annumerer,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 32, 89: “Epicuri de grege porcus,” Hor. Ep. 1, 4, 16: “grex contaminatus turpium virorum,” id. C. 1, 37, 9: “venalium,” Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 67: “indocilis,” Hor. Epod. 16, 37: “cum populum gregibus comitum premit spoliator,” Juv. 1, 46.—
2. In partic., of players or charioteers, a company, troop, band: si voltis adplaudere hunc gregem et fabulam, Plaut. Ps. 5, 2, 33; id. Cas. prol. 22; Ter. Heaut. prol. 45; id. Phorm. prol. 32; Petr. 80; Inscr. Grut. 1024, 5; Inscr. ap. Marin. Frat. Arv. p. 257.—
B. Of things (very rare): “virgarum,” a bundle of rods, Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 99.
