previous next
lētum (sometimes written lēthum , from a supposed connection with λήθη), i, n. acc. to Varr. L. L. 7, § 42 Müll., and Paul. ex Fest. p. 115 Müll., from λήθη; more prob. acc. to Prisc. p. 665 and 898 P., from leo, whence also deleo; root lī-; cf. Sanscr. vi-lī, to dissolve; Gr. λίμνη, λιμήν, λοιμός.
I.death (ante-class., and in the class. period mostly poet.): ollus apparet in funeribus indictivis, cum dicitur: ollus leto datus est (qs. was given up to oblivion), Varr. L. L. 7, § 42 Müll.—The phrase leto datus, dead: leto dare, to kill, often occurs: “sos leto datos divos habento,” Cic. Leg. 2, 9, 22: quorum liberi leto dati sunt in bello, Enn. ap. Non. 15, 13 (Trag. v. 378 Vahl.): “qui te leto dabit,” Pac. ib. 355, 18 (Trag. Rel. p. 79 Rib.); Verg. A. 5, 806; 11, 172; 12, 328; Ov. H. 2, 147: “utrumque largus leto dedit ingenii fons,” Juv. 10, 119; Phaedr. 1, 21, 9; 3, 16, 18: letum inimico deprecer, Enn. ap. Gell. 6, 16, 10 (Trag. v. 162 Vahl.): “emortuus leto malo,” Plaut. Aul. 4, 5, 1: “letum sibi consciscere,” id. Mil. 4, 6, 26: “responde, quo leto censes ut peream,” id. Merc. 2, 4, 15: “leto offerre caput,” Lucr. 3, 1041: “mortis letique potitus,” id. 4, 766: “eodem sibi leto, quo ipse interisset, esse pereundum,” Cic. Div. 1, 26, 56: “turpi leto perire,” id. Att. 10, 10, 5: “ferre (alicui),” Verg. A. 11, 872: “leto sternendus,” id. ib. 8, 566: “sibi parere manu,” id. ib. 6, 434: “ostentant omnia letum,” Cat. 64, 187: “leto jam mala finissem,” Tib. 2, 6, 19: “leto adimere aliquem,” to save from death, Hor. C. 3, 22, 3: “leto se eripere,” Verg. A. 2, 134: “pari leto affici,” Nep. Reg. 3, 2: “me pessimo leto adficere,” Liv. 22, 53, 11: “novo genere leti mergi,” id. 1, 51, 9; 2, 40, 10: “oppetere,” id. 45, 26.—
B. Personified: “consanguineus Leti Sopor,” Verg. A. 6, 278. —
II. Transf., of inanim, subjects, ruin, destruction (poet. for interitus): “tenues Teucrum res eripe leto,” Verg. A. 5, 690; cf.: “tum me, Juppiter Optime Maxime, domum, familiam remque meam pessimo leto afficias,” Liv. 12, 53, 11.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

The National Endowment for the Humanities provided support for entering this text.

hide Dictionary Entry Lookup
Use this tool to search for dictionary entries in all lexica.
Search for in
hide References (18 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (18):
    • Cicero, Letters to Atticus, 10.10.5
    • Plautus, Mercator, 2.4
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 11.872
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 2.134
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 5.690
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 5.806
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.278
    • Plautus, Aulularia, 4.5
    • Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, 4.6
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 3.1041
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 4.766
    • Cornelius Nepos, Kings, 3.2
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 22, 53
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 45, 26
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 1, 51.9
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 2, 40.10
    • Cicero, De Legibus, 2.9
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 1.26
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: