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lĭtŭus , i (
I.gen. plur. lituum, Luc. 1, 237; Val. Fl. 6, 166; Sil. 13, 146), m. prob. Etruscan; prim. signif. crooked.
I. Lit.
A. The crooked staff borne by the augurs, an augur's crook or crosier, augural wand: “dextra manu baculum sine nodo aduncum tenens, quem lituum appellaverunt,” Liv. 1, 18, 7; cf.: “lituus iste vester, quod clarissimum est insigne auguratus,” Cic. Div. 1, 17. 30; “Geh. 5, 7, 8: Quirinalis,” Verg. A. 7, 187: “lituo pulcher trabeaque Quirinus,” Ov. F. 6, 375.—
B. A crooked wind-instrument (used to give signals in war), a curved trumpet, cornet, clarion: lituus sonitus effudit acutos, Enn. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 116 Müll. (Ann. v. 522 Vahl.); Verg. A. 6, 167: “jam lituus pugnae signa daturus erat,” Ov. F. 3, 216: “lituo tubae Permixtus sonitus,” Hor. C. 1, 1, 23: “stridor lituum clangorque tubarum,” Luc. 1, 237: “cornua cum lituis audita,” Juv. 14, 200.—
II. Transf., a signal: de lituis, βοώπιδος, Cic. Att. 2, 12, 2.—
III. Trop., an instigator, author: “lituus meae profectionis,” Cic. Att. 11, 12, 1.
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.

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hide References (10 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (10):
    • Cicero, Letters to Atticus, 11.12.1
    • Cicero, Letters to Atticus, 2.12.2
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.167
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 7.187
    • Lucan, Civil War, 1.237
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 1, 18.7
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 1.17
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 6.166
    • Ovid, Fasti, 3
    • Ovid, Fasti, 6
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