Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.“more freq. imbre,” Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 62; Cic. de Sen. 10, 34; Liv. 21, 58, 6; Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 11; Ov. Am. 3, 6. 68; id. M. 13, 889; cf. Neue, Formenl. 1, 239 sq.), m. kindr. to Sanscr. abhra, a cloud; cf. Lat. umbra; Gr. ὄμβρος, rain, heavy or violent rain, a rain-storm, shower of rain, pelting or pouring rain (cf.: pluvia, nimbus).

I. Lit. (class.): “imbres fluctusque atque procellae infensae,” Plaut. Trin. 4, 1, 17: “venit imber, lavit parietes,” id. Most. 1, 2, 30: “erat hiems summa, tempestas perfrigida, imber maximus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 40, § 86: “ita magnos et assiduos imbres habebamus,” id. Att. 13, 16, 1; Lucr. 6, 107: “maximo imbri Capuam veni,” Cic. Att. 7, 20, 1: “in imbri, in frigore,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 40, § 87: “iter factum corruptius imbri,” Hor. S. 1, 5, 95; so, “imbre lutoque Aspersus,” id. Ep. 1, 11, 11: “quae opera per imbrem fieri potuerint,” Cato, R. R. 2, 3: lapideus aut sanguineus imber, Cic. Div. 2, 28, 60; cf.: “quid cum saepe lapidum, sanguinis nonnumquam, terrae interdum, quondam etiam lactis imber defluxit?” id. ib. 1, 43, 98: “imbri lapidavit,” Liv. 43, 13: “tamquam lapides effuderit imber,” Juv. 13, 67.—

2. Prov.

a. Imbrem in cribrum gerere, i. e. to attempt an impossibility, Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 100.—

b. Tam hoc tibi in proclivi est quam imber est quando pluit, i. e. exceedingly easy, Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 86.—

II. Transf., in gen.

A. A rain-cloud, stormcloud: “caeruleus supra caput astitit imber,” Verg. A. 3, 194; 5, 10: “grandinis imbres,” hail-storms, Lucr. 6, 107.—

B. Rain-water: “piscinae cisternaeque servandis imbribus,” Tac. H. 5, 12.—

C. Water or liquid in gen. (poet.): cui par imber et ignis, Enn. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 37 Müll. (Ann. v. 511 Vahl.); “so of water as an element: ex igni, terra atque anima procrescere et imbri,” Lucr. 1, 715: “ut ferrum Stridit, ubi in gelidum propere demersimus imbrem,” id. 6, 149: “calidi,” Ov. Am. 2, 15, 23: ratibusque fremebat Imber Neptuni, i. e. the sea, Enn. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 11, 299 (Ann. v. 490 Vahl.); so of the sea, Verg. A. 1, 123; Ov. H. 18, 104; Val. Fl. 4, 665: “amicos irriget imbres,” Verg. G. 4, 115: “imbre per indignas usque cadente genas,” a shower of tears, Ov. Tr. 1, 3, 18: “sanguineus,” stream of blood, Stat. Th. 1, 437; cf.: “cruentus,” Luc. 6, 224: “nectaris,” Claud. Nupt. Hon. 101.—

D. Like the Engl. word shower, of things that fall like rain: “ferreus ingruit imber,” Verg. A. 12, 284; cf.: “quo pacto Danaae misisse aiunt quondam in gremium imbrem aureum,” Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 37.