I. (Sino, 1. situs, A.; prop. a being laid or placed, a lying; hence, by meton.)
A. The manner of lying, the situation, local position, site of a thing (class. in sing. and plur.; mostly of localities; syn. positus).
(α).
Sing.: “terrae,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 20, 45: “urbem Syracusas elegerat, cujus hic situs esse dicitur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 10, § 26: “loci,” id. Ac. 2, 19, 61: “urbis,” id. Rep. 2, 11, 22; Caes. B. G. 7, 68; 7, 36; Liv. 9, 24, 2: “locorum,” Curt. 3, 4, 11; 7, 6, 12: “Messana, quae situ moenibus portuque ornata est,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 2, § 3; cf.: “urbes naturali situ inexpugnabiles,” Liv. 5, 6; Curt. 3, 4, 2: “agri (with forma),” Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 4: “Africae,” Sall. J. 17, 1: “castrorum,” Caes. B. G. 5, 57; id. B. C. 3, 66: “montis,” Curt. 8, 10, 3: “loca naturae situ invia,” id. 7, 4, 4; “opp. opus: turrem et situ et opere multum editum,” id. 3, 1, 7; 8, 10, 23; cf. Front. Strat. 3, 2, 1: “figura situsque membrorum,” Cic. N. D. 2, 61, 153; cf.: “passeres a rhombis situ tantum corporum differunt,” Plin. 9, 20, 36, § 72: “Aquilonis,” towards the north, id. 16, 12, 23, § 59.—Poet.: exegi monumentum aere perennius Regalique situ pyramidum altius, i. e. the structure (prop. the manner of construction), Hor. C. 3, 30, 2 (cf. the Part. situs, in Tac., = conditus, built; v. sino, P. a. A. 2. c.).—
(β).
Plur.: “opportunissimi situs urbibus,” Cic. Rep. 2, 3, 5; so, “oppidorum,” Caes. B. G. 3, 12: “terrarum,” Cic. Div. 2, 46, 97; cf. Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 252: “locorum,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 16, 4: “castrorum,” Caes. B. G. 7, 83: situs partium corporis, Cic. Ac. 2, 39, 122: “revocare situs (foliorum),” position, arrangement, Verg. A. 3, 451. —
B. Transf. (= regio), a quarter of the world, region (Plinian): “a meridiano situ ad septentriones,” Plin. 2, 108, 112, § 245; 2, 47, 48, § 127; 3, 12, 17, § 108; cf. Sill. ad Plin. 16, § 2.—Plur.: “(pantherae) repleturae illos situs,” Plin. 27, 2, 2, § 7.—
II. Lit.
1. Rust, mould, mustiness, dust, dirt, etc., that a thing acquires from lying too long in one place (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose; not in Cic. or Cæs.; “syn.: squalor, sordes): corrumpor situ,” Plaut. Truc. 5, 23; cf.: “quae in usu sunt et manum cottidie tactumque patiuntur, numquam periculum situs adeunt,” Sen. Ben. 3, 2, 2: “tristia duri Militis in tenebris occupat arma situs,” Tib. 1, 10, 50: “arma squalere situ ac rubigine,” Quint. 10, 1, 30: “immundo pallida mitra situ,” Prop. 4 (5), 5, 70. “ne aut supellex vestisve condita situ dilabatur,” Col. 12, 3, 5: “per loca senta situ,” Verg. A. 6, 462: “araneosus situs,” Cat. 23, 3: “immundus,” Ov. Am. 1, 12, 30; cf. id. ib. 1, 8, 52; id. Tr. 3, 10, 70: “detergere situm ferro,” Sil. 7, 534: “deterso situ,” Plin. Pan. 50: “prata situ vetustatis obducta,” Col. 2, 18, 2. —
2. Filthiness of the body: genas situ liventes, Poët. ap. Cic. Tusc. 3, 12, 26 (Com. Rel. p. 225 Rib.: “situm inter oris et barba, etc.): en ego victa situ,” Verg. A. 7, 452; Ov. M. 7, 290; 7, 303; 8, 802; Luc. 6, 516; Plin. 21, 6, 17, § 33.—
B. Trop.
1. Neglect, idleness, absence of use: “indigna est pigro forma perire situ,” Ov. Am. 2, 3, 14: “et segnem patiere situ durescere campum,” Verg. G. 1, 72; Col. 2, 2, 6: “gladius usu splendescit, situ rubiginat,” App. Flor. 3, p. 351, 32. —
2. Of the mind, a rusting, moulding, a wasting away, dulness, inactivity: “senectus victa situ,” Verg. A. 7, 440: “marcescere otio situque civitatem,” Liv. 33, 45 fin.: “situ obsitae justitia, aequitas,” Vell. 2, 126, 2: “quae (mens) in hujusmodi secretis languescit et quendam velut in opaco situm ducit,” Quint. 1, 2, 18; cf. id. 12, 5, 2: “ne pereant turpi pectora nostra situ,” Ov. Tr. 5, 12, 2: “depellere situm curis,” Stat. S. 5, 3, 34: “flebis in aeterno surda jacere situ (carmina),” i. e. oblivion, Prop. 1, 7, 18: “(verba) priscis memorata Catonibus Nunc situs informis premit et deserta vetustas,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 118; cf.: “verborum situs,” Sen. Ep. 58, 3: “nec umquam passure situm,” Stat. Th. 3, 100: “passus est leges istas situ atque senio emori,” Gell. 20, 1, 10.
