I. In relig. lang., of the gods, glorified, worshipped, honored, adored (only in the voc. macte, and rarely in the nom.): “Juppiter te bonas preces precor, uti sies volens propitius mihi liberisque meis, mactus hoc fercto. Jove pater, macte vino inferio esto,” Cato, R. R. 134, 2 and 3; cf. id. ib. 132, 2; “for which: mactus hoc vino inferio esto,” Arn. 7, 296: “macte hoc porco piaculo immolando esto,” Cato, R. R. 139 fin.: “macte hisce suovitaurilibus lactentibus immolandis esto,” id. ib. 141, 3 sq.: “macte hac dape esto,” id. ib. 132.—
II. Transf., beyond the relig. sphere, with or without esto, as an exclamation of applause or congratulation: macte, macte virtute (esto), macti virtute este, etc.; and as a standing formula, macte, even with acc. (v. infra), Engl. good luck! hail to thee! etc.; in responses, bravo! well done! that's right! go on! tantumne ab re tua est oti tibi, ut etiam Oratorem legas? Macte virtute! increase in, go on in, Cic. Att. 12, 6, 2; id. Tusc. 1, 17, 40: “macte virtute esto sanguinolentis et ex acie redeuntibus dicitur,” Sen. Ep. 66 fin.: “macte virtute esto,” Hor. S. 1, 2, 31: macte novā virtute, puer; “sic itur ad astra!” Verg. A. 9, 641: “macte virtute diligentiāque esto,” Liv. 10, 40: macte virtute simulque his versibus esto, Lucil. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 9, 641: “macte animo,” Stat. Th. 7, 280; cf.: “macte bonis animi,” id. S. 1, 3, 106: “macte toris,” id. ib. 1, 2, 201: “macte hac gloriā,” Plin. Pan. 46: “macte uterque ingenti in rempublicam merito,” id. ib. 89: “macte esto taedis, o Hymenaee, tuis,” Mart. 4, 13, 2.—In plur.: “macti virtute milites Romani este,” Liv. 7, 36, 5: “macti ingenio este,” Plin. 2, 12, 9, § 54: “vos macti virtute estote,” Curt. 4, 1, 18: “juberem macte virtute esse, si pro meā patriā ista virtus staret,” Liv. 2, 12, 14.—With acc.: “macte fortissimam et meo judicio beatissimam in ipsis malis civitatem!” Flor. 2, 18, 16.—
(β).
With gen. (poet.): “macte animi,” Mart. 12, 6, 7; Stat. S. 5, 1, 37; id. Th. 2, 495.—With abl.: “macte animo, juvenis,” Stat. Th. 7, 280.—
