I. That announces, signifies, makes known; announcing, informing (poet.): “nuntia fibra deos?” Tib. 2, 1, 26: “fratre reversuro, nuntia venit avis,” Mart. 8, 32, 8: “nuntia littera,” Ov. H. 6, 9: “simulacra In mentes hominum divinae nuntia formae,” Lucr. 6, 77; cf. id. 4, 704: “habes animi nuntia verba mei,” Ov. H. 16, 10: “exta venturae nuntia sortis,” Tib. 3, 4, 5.—
II. Usually as subst.
A. nuntĭum , i, n., an announcement, message, news (rare): “ad aures nova nuntia referens,” this new message, Cat. 63, 75; cf.: “nuntius est qui nuntiat, nuntium, quod nuntiatur,” Serv. Verg. A. 11, 896: “de caelo nuntium erit,” Varr. L. L. 6, 86: “tyrannum perturbant nuntia,” Sedul. 2, 474.—
B. nuntĭus , i, m., a bearer of news, one who brings intelligence, a reporter, messenger, courier (freq. and class.); “both of persons and things: Mercurius Jovis qui nuntius perhibetur,” Plaut. Stich. 2, 1, 1: “ad me rus advenit nuntius,” id. Merc. 4, 1, 1: “o hominem fortunatum, qui ejusmodi nuntios, seu potius Pegasos habet,” Cic. Quint. 25, 80: litteris, nuntiis, cohortationibus omnes excitare. id. Phil. 14, 7, 20: facere aliquem certiorem per nuntium, id. Att. 11, 24, 4: “aliquid audire sine capite, sine auctore, rumore nuntio,” id. Fam. 12, 10, 1: “litteras et nuntios mittere ad aliquem,” Caes. B. G. 1, 26: “nuntius ibis Pelidae,” Verg. A. 2, 547: “nuntius adfert rem,” Cic. Imp. Pomp. 9, 25: “nuntius ales, i. e. Mercurius,” Ov. H. 16, 68: “Mercurius, nuntius Jovis et deorum,” Hor. C. 1, 10, 5: “nuntii afferunt Darium premi a Scythis,” Nep. Milt. 3, 3.—Poet., of a woman: “huic dea ... utinam non hic tibi nuntius essem,” Val. Fl. 2, 141.—
b. A messenger, the bearer of a written message, = tabellarius (very rare): “nuntio ipsius, qui litteras attulerat dici (placuit),” Liv. 42, 37, 6.—
2. Abstract.
a. In gen., a message, news, tidings: “nuntium exoptabilem nuntiare,” Plaut. Stich. 2, 2, 67: “opta ergo ob istunc nuntium quidvis tibi,” id. Merc. 5, 2, 65: “inest lepos in nuntio tuo magnus,” id. Rud. 2, 3, 22: “acerbum nuntium alicui perferre,” Cic. Balb. 28, 64: “de Q. Fratre nuntii nobis tristes venerunt,” id. Att. 3, 17, 1: “exoptatum nuntium alicui afferre,” id. Rosc. Am. 7, 19: “nuntium optatissimum accipere,” id. Fam. 2, 19, 1: “nuntium perferre,” id. Lig. 3, 7: “nuntium ferre ad aliquem,” Liv. 4, 41: “horribilis nuntius affertur,” Cat. 84, 10; Verg. A. 8, 582.—
b. In partic.
(α).
A command, order, injunction: “quos senatus ad denuntiandum bellum miserat, nisi legatorum nuntio paruisset,” Cic. Fam. 12, 24, 2; Nep. Chabr. 3, 1.—
(β).
Nuntium uxori remittere or mittere, to send one's wife a letter of divorce, Cic. de Or. 1, 40, 183; 56, 238; id. Att. 1, 13, 3; Dig. 24, 2, 4; 24, 3, 22.—Also of a woman who separates from her husband, Cic. Top. 4, 19; App. M. 9, p. 230 med. —Of the annulling of a betrothment: “si invito patrono nuntium sponsa liberta remiserit,” Dig. 23, 2, 45.—Of the rejection of the marriage contract by the parents and guardians: “ego adeo jam illi remittam nuntium adfini meo,” Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 74: “si puellae tutores ad infringenda sponsalia nuntium miserint,” Dig. 23, 1, 6.—
C. nuntĭa , ae, f., a female messenger, she that brings tidings: nuntia fulva Jovis, i. e. the eagle, Poët. ap. Cic. Leg. 1, 1, 2; cf. Liv. 1, 34: “historia nuntia vetustatis,” Cic. de Or. 2, 9, 36: “vox nuntia cladis,” Liv. 5, 50: “fama nuntia veri,” Verg. A. 4, 188; Ov. P. 4, 4, 15: “plaga nuntia rerum,” Lucr. 4, 704; cf. Val. Fl. 2, 141; B. 1. a. fin. supra.
