Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.a deep sleep.

I. Lit., in gen., sleep (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose; not in Cic.; cf. “somnus): lucrum praeposivi sopori et quieti,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 2, 11: “cum eum cibo vinoque gravatum sopor oppressisset,” Liv. 1, 7, 5: “sopore discusso,” Curt. 6, 8, 22; 6, 10, 13; 7, 11, 18; 8, 6, 26; “but also opp. somnus: hujus (junci) semine somnum allici, sed modum servandum, ne sopor fiat,” Plin. 21, 18, 71, § 119: sopore placans artus languidos, Att. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 22, 44: “cum suavi devinxit membra sopore Somnus,” Lucr. 4, 453; 4, 765; 4, 996: “nox erat et placidum carpebant fessa soporem Corpora,” Verg. A. 4, 522: “piger his labante languore oculos sopor operit,” Cat. 63, 37: “fessos sopor inrigat artus,” Verg. A. 3, 511: “placidum petivit soporem,” id. ib. 8, 406: “occupet ut fessi lumina victa sopor,” Tib. 1, 2, 2. —Personified, Sopor = Somnus, Verg. A. 6, 278; Prop. 1, 3, 45; Stat. Th. 12, 308. —In plur., Tib. 4, 4, 9 (Müll. sapores).—

2. Pregn., the sleep of death, death: “in soporem conlocastis nudos,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 148; 1, 1, 150: “aeternus,” Lucr. 3, 466: “perpetuus,” Hor. C. 1, 24, 5.—

II. Transf.

A. Stupefaction, lethargy, stupor: neque dormire excitatus, neque vigilare ebrius poterat, sed semisomno sopore ... jactabatur, Cael. ap. Quint. 4, 2, 124: “temulento sopore profligatus,” id. ib. § 123. —

B. Drowsiness, laziness, indifference: “sopor et ignavia,” Tac. H. 2, 76; Mart. 7, 42, 4.—

C. Poppy-juice, opium: “e nigro papavere sopor gignitur scapo inciso,” Plin. 20, 18, 76, § 198.—

D. A sleepingdraught, sleeping - potion: “sopore sumpto dormiturus,” Sen. Ep. 83, 25; so (opp. venenum) id. Ben. 5, 13, 5; Front. Strat. 2, 5, 12; Nep. Dion, 2, 5.—

E. The temple (of the head; cf. “Germ. Schläfe): laevus,” Stat. S. 2, 3, 29.