I.“sollerte,” Ov. P. 4, 14, 35), adj. sollus, i. e. totus - ars, and therefore qs. all art; hence, in gen., skilled, skilful, clever, dexterous, adroit, expert (class.; syn.; sagax, subtilis, expertus).
I. Of persons: “quae liberum Scire aequom est adulescentem, solertem dabo,” to make ready, accomplished, Ter. Eun. 3, 2, 25: vigilans ac sollers, sicca, sana, sobria sum, Afran. ap. Non. 21, 33: “in omni vel officio vel sermone sollers,” Cic. Rep. 2, 21, 37: “pictor sollers in arte,” Plin. 35, 11, 40, § 142: “sollertem tu me facis,” Ov. H. 20, 26: “ancilla,” id. Am. 1, 8, 87: “vir,” id. Ib. 279: “Ulixes,” id. P. 4, 14, 35: “agricola,” Nep. Cat. 3, 1.—Comp.: “sollertior et ingeniosior,” Cic. Rosc. Com. 11, 31.—Sup.: “Sulla, rudis antea et ignarus belli, sollertissimus omnium factus est,” Sall. J. 96, 1: “hostis,” Suet. Caes. 35.—Poet., with inf.: “coloribus Sollers nunc hominem ponere nunc deum,” Hor. C. 4, 8, 8; Ov. Am. 2, 7, 17; Sil. 1, 79; 8, 260.—With gen.: “Musa lyrae sollers,” Hor. A. P. 407: “sollers cunctandi Fabius,” Sil. 7, 126.—With ad and acc.: “cum esset deus ad excogitandum providentissimus, ad faciendum sollertissimus,” Lact. 2, 8, 3.—
II. Transf., of things, ingenious, sagacious, intelligent, inventive: “opera providae sollertisque naturae,” Cic. N. D. 2, 51, 128: animus, Liv. 7, 14; cf.: “sollerti corde Prometheus,” Cat. 64, 295: “sollerti astu,” Ov. M. 4, 776: “sollers subtilisque descriptio partium,” Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 121: “frugum et pecudum custodia sollers,” Verg. G. 4, 327: “genus acuminis in reprehendendis verbis versutum et sollers,” Cic. Brut. 67, 236: “ingenium,” Ov. F. 3, 840: “hominum natura,” id. Am. 3, 8, 45: “manus,” Tib. 1, 8, 29.—Comp.: “nihil sollertius,” Cic. Sen. 15, 54: “sollertius est multo genus virile,” Lucr. 5, 1356.—Sup.: fundus sollertissimus, qs. most creative, i. e. most productive, fruitful, Cato, R. R. 8 fin.— Hence, adv.: sollerter (sōlert- ), skilfully, dexterously, shrewdly, sagaciously, ingeniously: “aliquid consequi,” Cic. Leg. 1, 8, 26: “patefacere futura,” Tac. A. 6, 21: “explorans,” Spart. Hadr. 10.—Comp.: “simulata sollertius,” Cic. N. D. 2, 35, 88: “exprimere incessus, vultum, etc.,” Ov. M. 11, 635: “colere hortos,” id. ib. 14, 624: imperare, Treb. Poll. Gall. 13.—Sup.: “aliquid sollertissime perspicere,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 98: “tempora persequi,” Vop. Car. 4.
