I.a fall, falling down, sinking in.
I. Lit. (rare but class.): “dare labem,” Lucr. 2, 1145: “motus terrae Rhodum ... gravi ruinarum labe concussit,” Just. 30, 4, 3: “tantos terrae motus in Italia factos esse, ut multis locis labes factae sint terraeque desederint,” subsidences of the earth, Cic. Div. 1, 35, 78; cf.: “labes agri,” id. ib. 1, 43, 97: “terrae,” Liv. 42, 15; so absol.: “si labes facta sit, omnemque fructum tulerit,” Dig. 19, 2, 15, § 2: “labes imbris e caelo,” Arn. 5, 185.—
II. Transf.
A. A fall, stroke, ruin, destruction: “hinc mihi prima mali labes,” the first blow of misfortune, Verg. A. 2, 97: “haec prima mali labes, hoc initium impendentis ruinae fuit,” Just. 17, 1, 5: metuo legionibu' labem, Enn. ap. Diom. p. 378 P. (Ann. v. 283 Vahl.): “quanta pernis pestis veniet, quanta labes larido,” Plaut. Capt. 4, 3, 3: “innocentiae labes ac ruina,” Cic. Fl. 10, 24: “labes in tabella,” id. Lael. 12, 41: “regnorum labes,” Val. Fl. 5, 237.—
B. Meton., ruin, destruction; of a dangerous person, one who causes ruin: “(Verres) labes atque pernicies provinciae Siciliae,” Cic. Verr. 1, 1, 2: labes popli, Plant. Pers. 3, 3, 4.—Of a bad law: “labes atque eluvies civitatis,” Cic. Dom. 20, 53.—
