I.the breast, in men and animals.
I. Lit., the breast, the breastbone: “pectus, hoc est ossa praecordiis et vitalibus natura circumdedit,” Plin. 11, 37, 82, § 207; cf. Cels. 8, 7 fin.; 8, 8, 2: “meum cor coepit in pectus emicare,” Plaut. Aul. 4, 3, 4: “dignitas, quae est in latitudine pectoris,” Quint. 11, 3, 141: “summis digitis pectus appetere,” id. 11, 3, 124; 11, 3, 122: “pectore adverso,” id. 2, 15, 7: “aequo pectore,” upright, not inclined to one side, id. 11, 3, 125: “pectore in adverso ensem Condidit,” Verg. A. 9, 347: “in pectusque cadit pronus,” Ov. M. 4, 578: “latum demisit pectore clavum,” Hor. S. 1, 6, 28; 2, 8, 90 et saep.; Vulg. Gen. 3, 14.—In the poets freq., in plur., of a person's breast: hasta volans perrumpit pectora ferro, Liv. Andron. ap. Prisc. p. 760 P.; Ov. M. 4, 554.—
II. Transf.
B. The breast.
1. As the seat of affection, courage, etc., the heart, feelings, disposition: “somnum socordiamque ex pectore oculisque amovere,” Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 11: “Ah, guttula Pectus ardens mi adspersisti,” i. e. a little comforted, id. Ep. 4, 1, 32: “in amicitiā, nisi, ut dicitur, apertum pectus videas, etc.,” Cic. Lael. 26, 97: “si non ipse amicus per se amatur toto pectore ut dicitur,” id. Leg. 1, 18, 49: “pietate omnium pectora imbuere,” Liv. 1, 21, 1: “metus insidens pectoribus,” id. 10, 41, 2; 1, 56, 4: “quinam pectora semper impavida repens terror invaserit,” id. 21, 30, 2: “in eodem pectore nullum est honestorum turpiumque consortium,” Quint. 12, 1, 4; 2, 5, 8: “te vero ... jam pectore toto Accipio,” Verg. A. 9, 276: “his ubi laeta deae permulsit pectora dictis,” id. ib. 5, 816: “robur et aes triplex circa pectus erat,” Hor. C. 1, 3, 10; 2, 12, 15: “pectoribus mores tot sunt quot in orbe figurae,” id. A. A. 1, 759: “mollities pectoris,” tender-heartedness, id. Am. 3, 8, 18; id. H. 19, 192; so, “pectus amicitiae,” a friendly heart, a friend, Mart. 9, 15, 2; Stat. S. 4, 4, 103; Manil. 2, 600.— Of courage, bravery: “cum tales animos juvenum et tam certa tulistis Pectora,” Verg. A. 9, 249: “te vel per Alpium juga ... Forti sequemur pectore,” Hor. Epod. 1, 11; Val. Fl. 6, 288.—Of conscience: “vita et pectore puro,” Hor. S. 1, 6, 64: “pectora casta,” Ov. H. 13, 30.—
2. The soul, spirit, mind, understanding: “de hortis toto pectore cogitemus,” Cic. Att. 13, 12, 4; so, “incumbe toto pectore ad laudem,” id. Fam. 10, 10, 2: “onerandum complendumque pectus maximarum rerum et plurimarum suavitate,” id. de Or. 3, 30, 121: “quod verbum in pectus Jugurthae altius descendit,” Sall. J. 11, 7; Liv. 1, 59: “(stultitiam tuam) in latebras abscondas pectore penitissumo,” Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 64: “multipotens pectus habere, ut copias ... pectore promat suo,” id. Bacch. 4, 1, 8 Fleck.: haben' tu amicum quoi pectus sapiat? id. Trin. 1, 2, 53; id. Bacch. 4, 4, 12: “at Cytherea novas artes, nova pectore versat Consilia,” Verg. A. 1, 657: “oculis pectoris aliquid haurire,” Ov. M. 15, 63; id. Tr. 3, 1, 64: “memori referas mihi pectore cuncta,” Hor. S. 2, 4, 90: “nunc adbibe puro Pectore verba,” id. Ep. 1, 2, 68; 2, 1, 128: “pectore arripere artes,” Tac. Or. 28: “pectus est quod disertos facit, et vis mentis,” Quint. 10, 7, 15; Ov. P. 2, 4, 24: “succinctaque pectora curis,” Stat. S. 5, 1, 77: “rara occulti pectoris vox,” i. e. a reserved disposition, Tac. A. 4, 52: “dicere de summo pectore,” i.e. without much reflection, Gell. 17, 13, 7.—Of inspired persons: “incaluitque deo quem clausum pectore habebat,” Ov. M. 2, 641; Verg. A. 6, 48; Stat. Th. 4, 542.—
3. The person, individual, regarded as a being of feeling or passion: “cara sororum Pectora,” Verg. A. 11, 216: “mihi Thesea pectora juncta fide,” Ov. Tr. 1, 3, 66: “pectus consulis gerere,” Liv. 4, 13; cf. Mart. 9, 15; Manil. 2, 600; Stat. S. 4, 4, 103.
