I. In gen., a stake, pale: extra vallum stili caeci, concealed stakes, Auct. B. Afr. 31, 5; cf. Sil. 10, 415 (for which stimuli, Caes. B. G. 7, 73 fin.): “ligneus,” Amm. 23, 4, 5; 15, 10, 5.—In agriculture, a pointed instrument for freeing plants from worms or from shoots which grow too rankly, etc., Col. 11, 3, 53; Pall. Mart. 10, 20.—Of the stem or stalk of many plants (e. g. of the asparagus), Col. 11, 3, 46; 11, 3, 58; 5, 10, 13; 5, 10, 21.—
II. In partic.
A. A style used by the Romans for writing on waxen tablets (pointed, and usually made of iron): “effer cito stilum, ceram et tabellas et linum,” Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 64; cf. id. ib. 4, 4, 76; 4, 9, 73; Quint. 1, 1, 27: “cum otiosus stilum prehenderat, flaccebat oratio,” Cic. Brut. 24, 93: “orationes paene Attico stilo scriptae,” with an Attic pen, id. ib. 45, 167; so, “(comoediae quaedam) resipiant stilum Plautinum,” Gell. 3, 3, 13.—And with reference to the ecenomical use, in a double sense, Cic. de Or. 2, 23, 96.—Writing on wax was erased with the broad upper end of the style; hence the phrase stilum vertere, for to erase what one has written, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 41, § 101: “saepe stilum vertas, iterum quae digna legi sint, Scripturus,” Hor. S. 1, 10, 73.—But cf.: “et mihi vertenti stilum in Gallias,” i. e. turning to write of, Amm. 29, 3, 1.—Comically: “stilis me totum usque ulmeis conscribito,” i. e. with elm switches, Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 131 (cf. conscribo).—
B. Transf.
1. = scriptio and scriptura, a setting down in writing, composing, composition; the practice of composing; manner of writing, mode of composition: “stilus optimus et praestantissimus dicendi effector ac magister,” Cic. de Or. 1, 33, 150; 1, 60, 257; cf. id. ib. 3, 49, 190; Quint. 1, 9, 2; cf.: “multus stilus et assidua lectio,” id. 10, 7, 4: “stilus exercitatus,” i. e. a practised pen, Cic. Or. 44, 150: “tardior stilus cogitationem moratur,” Quint. 1, 1, 28: “neglegens,” id. 2, 4, 13: “multus,” id. 10, 1, 1: “tardus,” id. 10, 3, 5: “rudis et confusus,” id. 1, 1, 28: “fidelis,” id. 10, 7, 7: “stilo incumbere,” Plin. Ep. 7, 29, 9: “aliquid stilo prosequi,” id. ib. 1, 8, 8; “2, 3, 3: signare stilo,” Vell. 1, 16, 1: “non ita dissimili sunt argumento, sed tamen Dissimili oratione sunt factae ac stilo,” in speech and writing, Ter. And. prol. 12 (for which: “oratione et scripturā,” id. Phorm. prol. 5); cf.: “unus sonus est totius orationis et idem stilus,” the same tone and the same style of composition run through the whole speech, Cic. Brut. 26, 100: “artifex stilus,” an artistic style, id. ib. 25, 96: “familiares opes velut supremo distribuens stilo,” i. e. by his last will, Amm. 25, 3, 21.—
2. A manner of speaking, mode of expression, style in speaking (post-Aug. and very rare; not as early as Quint.; “in class. Lat. sermo, oratio, dictio, dicendi modus, ars, genus or forma): stilus pressus demissusque,” Plin. Ep. 1, 8, 5: “pugnax et quasi bellatorins,” id. ib. 7, 9, 7: “laetior,” id. ib. 3, 18, 10; cf.: “diligentis stili anxietas,” Tac. Or. 39: “(Octavius) tragoediam magno impetu exorsus, non succedente stilo, abolevit,” Suet. Aug. 85: “affectatione obscurabat stilum,” id. Tib. 70: “stili dicendi duo sunt: unus est maturus et gravis, alter ardens erectus et infensus, etc.,” Macr. S. 5, 1; 6, 3.—*
3. A decision, verdict, opinion, App. M. 10, p. 242, 20.
