I. To change throughout, to alter or change completely: “sententiam,” Cic. Cat. 2, 7, 14: “omnem rei publicae statum,” id. Leg. 3, 9: “ordine permutato,” Lucr. 1, 827.—
II. In gen., to interchange, exchange one thing for another: “nomina inter se,” Plaut. Capt. 3, 5, 19: “domum,” id. Pers. 4, 5, 8: “galeam,” Verg. A. 9, 307: “cur valle permutem Sabinā Divitias operosiores?” Hor. C. 3, 1, 47: “cum jecore locum,” Plin. 11, 37, 80, § 204: “virus ut hoc alio fallax permutet odore,” Mart. 6, 93, 7: “plumbum gemmis,” for precious stones, Plin. 34, 17, 48, § 163.—Trop.: “permutatā ratione,” on the contrary, conversely, Plin. 19, 6, 32, § 106.—
B. In partic., in the lang. of business.
1. To exchange money: “placuit denarium sedecim assibus permutari,” Plin. 33, 3, 13, § 45.—Esp. of payments by exchange: “illud, quod tecum permutavi,” what you remitted to me by bill of exchange, Cic. Att. 5, 15, 2: “ait se curasse, ut cum quaestu populi permutaretur,” id. Fam. 2, 17, 7: “sed quaero, quod illi opus erit Athenis, permutari ne possit, an ipsi ferendum sit,” id. Att. 12, 24, 1: “velim cures, ut permutetur, Athenas, quod sit in annum sumptum ei,” id. ib. 15, 15, 2.—
2. To buy: “equos talentis auri permutare,” Plin. 6, 31, 36, § 198: “serichatum permutatur in libras denariis sex,” id. 12, 21, 45, § 99; 19, 1, 4, § 20.—
III. To turn about, turn round (post.-Aug.): “arborem in contrarium,” Plin. 17, 11, 16, § 84; 16, 40, 77, § 210.
