I.a material for coloring, a color, paint, pigment.
I. Lit.
A. For painting, a paint: “aspersa temere pigmenta in tabulā, oris lineamenta efficere possunt,” Cic. Div. 1, 13, 23: “vela in cortinam pigmenti ferventis mersa,” Plin. 35, 11, 42, § 150.—Jocosely: “quem Apelles Zeuxisque duo pingent pigmentis ulmeis,” i. e. beat black and blue, Plaut. Ep. 5, 1, 20. —
2. For cosmetics, a paint, pigment: “non istanc aetatem oportet pigmentum ullum attingere,” Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 106; Plin. 16, 43, 84, § 233: “multiplicasti pigmenta tua,” Vulg. Isa. 57, 9.—
B. Transf., the juice of plants (post-class.), Firm. Math. 8, 17; v. Cael. Aur. Acut. 2, 9, 46.—
II. Trop., of style, coloring, ornament: meus autem liber totum Isocratis μυροθήκιον atque omnes ejus discipulorum arculas et nonnihil etiam Aristotelia pigmenta consumpsit, Cic. Att. 2, 1, 1: “pigmentorum flos et color,” id. Brut. 87, 298: “sententiae, tam verae, tam sine pigmentis fucoque puerili,” id. de Or. 2, 45, 188.
