I.to measure off properly, to measure; to manage properly, to regulate.
I. In gen. (only post-Aug.): “in modulanda statūs longitudinisque ejus praestantiā,” Gell. 1, 1, 1; cf.: “quanta longinquitas corporis ei mensurae conveniret, modificatus est,” id. ib. fin.: “ita modulante naturā,” Plin. 2, 54, 55, § 142.—
II. In partic., of singing, speaking, dancing, etc., to measure rhythmically; to modulate; hence, transf., to dance, to represent by dancing; to sing, to play (class.): “ipsa natura, quasi modularetur hominum orationem, in omni verbo posuit acutam vocem,” Cic. Or. 18, 58; cf.: “hominum aures vocem naturā modulantur,” modulate, id. de Or. 3, 48, 185: “insulae, Saliares dictae, quoniam in symphoniae cantu ad ictus modulantium pedum moventur,” Plin. 2, 95, 96, § 209.—
B. Transf.: “virgines sonum vocis pulsu pedum modulantes incesserunt,” beating time to, accompanying with the dance, Liv. 27, 37 fin.: “(carmina) pastoris Siculi modulabor avenā,” Verg. E. 10, 51: “carmina descripsi, et modulans alterna notavi,” id. ib. 5, 14: “verba fidibus modulanda Latinis,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 143: “lyram,” Tib. 3, 4, 39 —Hence, mŏdŭlātus , a, um, Part. and P. a., in pass. signif.
A. Played upon, made by playing, played.
2. Of a song, tune, etc., sung: “carmina,” Suet. Aug. 57: “a canticis ad aliorum similitudinem modulatis,” Quint. 9, 2, 35.—
B. Properly measured, in due measure, in time, melodious, musical (poet. and in postAug. prose): “ipso modulata dolore Verba fundebat,” Ov. M. 14, 428: “sonus,” Plin. 10, 29, 43, § 81; § 85.—Comp.: “ut moderatiores modulatioresque fierent animi,” more harmonious, Gell. 1, 11, 1: “lingua,” id. 1, 15, 14: “orationem modulatiorem aptioremque reddit,” id. 13, 24, 9.—Sup.: “modulatissimus cantus,” Flor. 2, 7, 15.—Hence, adv.: mŏ-dŭlātē , measuredly, according to measure, in time, melodiously: modulate canentes tibiae, * Cic. N. D. 2, 8, 22: “haec tu quam perite, quam concinne, quam modulate enuntiāsti,” Aus. Ep. 19.—Comp.: “ars modulatius incedendi,” Amm. 16, 5, 10: “verba modulatius collocata,” Gell. 11, 13, 2.