I.an implement of any kind, a utensil, tool, instrument (class.).
I. Lit.: “militare,” Caes. B. G. 6, 30: “culinarum argentea,” Just. 38, 10, 4: “crudelia jussae instrumenta necis,” Ov. M. 3, 698.—
2. Esp., sing. collect., instruments, apparatus, material, stock, furniture (freq. and class.): “instrumentum ac ornamenta villae,” Cic. Dom. 24, 62: “orationes magna impensā magnoque instrumento tueri,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 21, § 53: “belli instrumentum et apparatus,” id. Ac. 2, 1, 3: rusticum, Phaedr. 4, 4, 24; Val. Max. 4, 4, 6: “hostium spolia, monumenta imperatorum, decora atque ornamenta fanorum, in instrumento atque in supellectile Verris nominabuntur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 97; cf. Pall. 1, 43, 1: “hibernorum,” Caes. B. C. 5, 31: “bellicum,” Liv. 42, 53, 4: “nauticum,” id. 30, 10, 3: “venatorium,” Plin. Ep. 3, 19, 3: “piscationis,” Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 41.—Esp., in law, the personalty, chattels, or stock of a farm, business, trade, etc.: “fundo legato, neque instrumentum fundi ... ad legatarium pertinet,” Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 34: “instrumento cauponio legato, ea debentur, quae in cauponis usum parata sunt, velut vasa,” id. ib. 3, 6, 61: “pistoris,” id. ib. § “64: medici,” Dig. 33, 7, 18, § 10; cf.: “in fanis alia vasorum sunt et sacrae supellectilis, alia ornamentorum, quae vasorum sunt instrumenti instar habent, quibus sacrificia conficiuntur,” apparatus, Macr. S. 3, 11, 5. —
II. Trop.
A. Of writings, an instrument, document, record: “opus est intueri omne litis instrumentum,” Quint. 12, 8, 12: “aerearum tabularum tria milia ... instrumentum imperii pulcherrimum ac vetustissimum,” Suet. Vesp. 8: “publici instrumenti auctoritas,” id. Calig. 8: “emtionis,” Dig. 24, 1, 58: “si scriptum fuerit instrumento, promisisse aliquem,” Paul. Sent. 5, 7, 2: “instrumentorum obligatio desideratur,” id. ib. 2, 17, 13. —
B. Store, provision, supply, means, assistance, furtherance, etc.: “oratoris,” provision, supply, Cic. de Or. 1, 36, 165: “causarum,” id. ib. 2, 34, 146.—Absol.: “quid viatici, quid instrumenti satis sit,” i. e. for a journey, Cic. Att. 12, 32, 2: “instrumenta ad obtinendam sapientiam,” means, id. Leg. 1, 22, 59: “virtutis,” id. Cat. 2, 5, 9: “naturae,” id. Brut. 77, 268: “graviorum artium,” id. ib. 97: “dicendi,” Quint. 12, 11, 24: “ciborum,” i. e. organs of digestion, Plin. 7, 50, 51, § 168.—
C. Ornament, embellishment: “felices ornent haec instrumenta libellos,” Ov. Tr. 1, 1, 9: “anilia,” apparel, dress, id. M. 14, 766; Suet. Aug. 73.
