I.greatness, grandeur, dignity, majesty.
I. Lit., of the gods; also the condition of men in high station, as kings, consuls, senators, knights, etc., and, in republican states, esp. freq. of the people (class.).
1. Of the gods: “di non censent esse suae majestatis, praesignificare hominibus, quae sunt futura,” Cic. Div. 1, 38, 82 sq.: “primus est deorum cultus deos credere, deinde reddere illis majestatem suam,” Sen. Ep. 95, 50: “divinam majestatem asserere sibi coepit,” divine majesty, Suet. Calig. 22.—
2. Of men: “consulis,” Cic. Pis. 11, 24: “judicum,” id. Rosc. Am. 19, 54: “regia,” Caes. B. C. 3, 106: “ducis,” Phaedr. 2, 5, 23: “senatus,” Liv. 8, 34: “patria,” the paternal authority, id. 8, 7, 3: “inter nos sanctissima divitiarum majestas,” Juv. 1, 113.—The sovereign power, sovereignty of the Roman people: “majestatem populi Romani defendere,” Cic. Phil. 3, 5, 13: “per majestatem populi Romani subvenite misero mihi,” Sall. J. 14, 25: ad tantam magnitudinem Romana majestas cunctorum numinum favore pervenit, Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 6, 4, 6: majestatem minuere or laedere, to injure or offend against the majesty, sovereignty of the people: “majestatem minuere est de dignitate, aut amplitudine, aut potestate populi, aut eorum, quibus populus potestatem dedit, aliquid derogare,” Cic. Inv. 2, 17, 53; Tac. A. 1, 72: “populi Romani majestatem laedere,” Sen. Contr. 4, 25, 13; Amm. 16, 8, 4; 19, 12, 1; 21, 12, 19 al.: crimen majestatis, high-treason; an offence against the majesty, sovereignty of the people: “et crimen majestatis, quod imperii nostri gloriae, rerumque gestarum monumenta evertere atque asportare ausus est,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 41, § 88: “legionem sollicitare, res est, quae lege majestatis tenetur,” against treason, id. Clu. 35, 97: “condemnatus majestatis,” id. ib.: “laesae majestatis accusari,” Sen. Contr. 4, 25: “majestatis causā damnatus,” Dig. 48, 24, 1: “majestatis judicium,” ib. 2, 20: “Lege Julia majestatis tenetur is, cujus ope, consilio adversus imperatorem vel rem publicam arma mota sunt, exercitusve ejus in insidias deductus est,” Paul. Sent. 5, 29, 1.—As a title of honor of the Roman emperors, majesty, Phaedr. 2, 5, 23; Symm. Ep. 19, 16 et saep.—
II. Transf., in gen., honor, dignity, excellence, splendor: “majestas et pudor matronarum,” Liv. 34, 2: “rex apum nullum habeat aculeum, majestate solā armatus,” Plin. 11, 17, 17, § 52: boum, i. e. fine condition, appearance, Varr R. R. 2, 5: “ipsa dierum Festorum herboso colitur si quando theatro,” Juv. 3, 173: “templorum,” id. 11, 111: “Tyria majestas,” the splendor of Tyrian purple, Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 79: “quanta illi fuit gravitas! quanta in oratione majestas!” Cic. Lael. 25, 96: “loci, i. e. Jovis templi,” Liv. 1, 53.
