I.perf., ātum, 1, v. a. id., to pollute, defile, contaminate, desecrate (in the verb. finit. rare, and only poet.; “syn.: temero, polluo): impia non verita est divos scelerare parentes,” Cat. 64, 405; cf. Stat. Th. 2, 663: “sanguine fauces,” id. ib. 8, 761: “parce pias scelerare manus,” Verg. A. 3, 42: “Cererem,” Juv. 9, 25: “animum,” Sil. 16, 122; cf.: “dextram sanguine,” Stat. Th. 9, 666. —Hence, scĕlĕrātus , a, um, P. a., polluted, profaned by crime.
A. Lit. (appellatively; “only in the poets): terra,” Verg. A. 3, 60: “terrae,” Ov. P. 1, 6, 29: “limina Thracum,” id. M. 13, 628.—
2. In partic., as an adj. prop., denoting places where crimes had been committed or criminals punished. So,
a. Sceleratus Vicus, that part of the Vicus Cyprius, on the Esquiline, in which Tullia, daughter of Servius Tullius, drove over her father's corpse, Liv. 1, 48; Varr. L. L. 5, § 159 Müll.; Ov. F. 6, 609; Fest. pp. 332 and 333 Müll.—
b. Sceleratus Campus, under the city will hard by the porta Collina, where unchaste Vestals were buried alive, Liv. 8, 15; Fest. l. l.; Serv. Verg. A. 11, 206.—
c. Scelerata sedes, the place of punishment for the wicked in Tartarus, Tib. 1, 3, 67; Ov. M. 4, 455; “also called Sceleratum limen,” Verg. A. 6, 563.—For Scelerata Porta and Castra, v. infra, B. 2. b.—
B. Transf.
1. Subjectively, bad, impious, wicked, ac-cursed, infamous, vicious, flagitious; in the masc. subst., a bad, impious, or vicious person ; a wretch, miscreant (the predom. signif.; freq. with nefarius, impious, etc.; cf. consceleratus); “of persons: virum sceleratum, facinorosum, nefarium,” Cic. Rep. 3, 17, 27: “deliberantium genus totum sceleratum et impium,” id. Off. 3, 8, 37; id. Mur. 30, 62 (with nefarius); id. Att. 9, 15, 5 (with impurus); Caes. B. G. 6, 13 (with impius); Plaut. Pers. 2, 4, 4; Ter. And. 1, 1, 132; id. Ad. 4, 2, 14; Cic. Cat. 1, 9, 23; Caes. B. G. 6, 34; Sall. C. 52, 36: “facto plus et sceleratus eodem,” Ov. M. 3, 5: “puella,” id. R. Am. 299; Liv. 1, 59; 31, 31; Suet. Ner. 46; Hor. S. 2, 3, 71; 2, 3, 221 al.—Comp.: “homo sceleratior,” Ov. M. 11, 781.—Sup.: “refertam esse Graeciam sceleratissimorum hominum,” Cic. Planc. 41, 98; Sall. J. 14, 2; 31, 12; Liv. 4, 32 et saep.—Of things: “sceleratas ejus preces et nefaria vota cognovimus,” Cic. Clu. 68, 194: “contra patriam scelerata arma capere,” id. Phil. 11, 1, 1; Ov. M. 5, 102: “conjuratio,” Liv. 2, 6: “insania belli,” Verg. A. 7, 461: “caput,” Plaut. Ep. 3, 2, 33: “vox (with inhumana),” Cic. Fin. 3, 19, 64: “consilia,” Vell. 2, 130, 3: “amor habendi,” Ov. M. 1, 131: “munera,” id. ib. 8, 94: “ignes,” id. F. 6, 439.—Comp.: “a sceleratiore hastā,” Cic. Off. 2, 8, 29: “causa parricidii,” Just. 10, 2, 1. —Sup.: “res,” Quint. 3, 8, 45: “fraus humani ingenii,” Plin. 34, 14, 39, § 138.—Poet.: “subit ira sceleratas sumere poenas,” i.e. to take satisfaction for her crimes, Verg. A. 2, 576. —
2. (As a result of viciousness or criminality; cf. scelus, II. C.) Hurtful, harmful, noxious, pernicious, unhappy, unfortunate, calamitous, etc. (only poet. and in postAug. prose): “teritur sinapis scelerata: qui terunt, oculi ut exstillent, facit,” Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 28: “herba,” App. Herb. 8.—Sup.: “sceleratissimis serpentium haemorrhoidi et presteri,” Plin. 24, 13, 73, § 117: “frigus,” Verg. G. 2, 256: “lues,” Mart. 1, 102, 6: “poëmata,” id. 3, 50, 9 et saep.: MATER, Inscr. Rein. cl. 12, 122; so Inscr. Fabr. p. 237, 631: “PARENTES,” Inscr. Murat. 1187, 2.—
c. As an adj. prop.
(α).
Scelerata Porta, the gate (also called Porta Carmentalis) through which the three hundred Fabii marched on their fatal expedition, Fest. pp. 334 and 335 Müll.; Serv. Verg. A. 8, 337; Flor. 1, 12, 2.—
(β).
Scelerata Castra, the camp in which D. Drusus died, Suet. Claud. 1.—Hence, adv.: scĕlĕrātē (acc. to B. 1.), impiously, wickedly, nefariously (Ciceronian): “peccavi scelerateque feci,” Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 3, 2: “facere (with audacter),” id. Sull. 24, 67: “dicere (opp. pie),” id. Mil. 38, 103: “susceptum bellum,” id. Cat. 1, 10, 27.—Comp.: “sceleratius,” Vulg. Ezech. 16, 52. —Sup.: “sceleratissime machinatus omnes insidias,” Cic. Sest. 64, 133.
