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obscēnĭtas (obscaen-, obscoen- ), ātis, f. obscenus. *
I. Unfavorableness, inauspiciousness, of a bad omen: “mali ominis obscenitas,” Arn. 1, 10.—
II. Moral impurity, foulness, unchastity, lewdness, obscenity.
A. In abstr. (the class. signif. of the word): “si rerum turpitudo adhibetur et verborum obscenitas,” Cic. Off. 1, 29, 104; cf. id. ib. 1, 35, 127; cf. also id. de Or. 2, 59, 242: “si quod sit in obscenitate flagitium, id aut in re esse aut in verbo,” id. Fam. 9, 22, 1: “obscenitas non a verbis tantum abesse debet, sed etiam a significatione,” Quint. 6, 3, 29: “eques Romanus obscenitatis in feminas reus,” Suet. Claud. 15: “professis apud se obscenitatem cetera quoque concessisse delicta,” unchastity, id. Ner. 29: “obscenitate oris hirsuto atque olido seni clare exprobrata,” the disfigurement produced by lewdness, id. Tib. 45: “in obscenitatem, aliquem compellere,” Dig. 1, 12, 1, § 8.—
B. Concr., an obscene thing (post-Aug. and very rare): corporum obscenitas, = τὰ αἰδοῖα, Arn. 5, 176: “amputata,” id. 5, 173.— Plur.: “in poculis libidines caelare juvit ac per obscenitates bibere,” obscene figures, Plin. H. N 30 prooem. § 5.
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 (8 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (8):
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 9.22.1
    • Cicero, On Oratory, 2.59
    • Suetonius, Divus Claudius, 15
    • Suetonius, Nero, 29
    • Suetonius, Tiberius, 45
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 30
    • Cicero, De Officiis, 1.29
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 6, 3.29
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