I.wind (syn.: aura, flamen).
I. Lit.: “ventus est aëris fluens unda cum incerta motus redundantia, etc.,” Vitr. 1, 6; cf. Quint. 12, 10, 67; Plin. 2, 47, 46, § 120; Sen. Q. N. 5, 16 sq.; Isid. Orig. 13, 11: istic est is Juppiter quem dico, quem Graeci vocant Ἀέρα, qui ventus est et nubes, imber postea, Atque ex imbre frigus, ventus post fit, aër denuo, Varr. L. L. 5, § 65 Müll.; cf.: “(aër) effluens huc et illuc ventos efficit,” Cic. N. D. 2, 39, 101: “deturbavit ventus tectum et tegulas,” Plaut. Rud. prol. 78: “mare ventorum vi agitari atque turbari,” Cic. Clu. 49, 138: “qui (divi) simul Stravere ventos,” Hor. C. 1, 9, 10: “remissior,” Caes. B. C. 3, 26: “prosper,” Liv. 25, 27, 4: “ventum exspectare,” Cic. Phil. 1, 3, 8; id. Att. 10, 15, 2; 16, 7, 1: “secundus, adversus, v. h. vv.—In apposition: Africus,” Cic. N. D. 1, 36, 101: “Atabalus,” Quint. 8, 2, 13: “Corus,” Caes. B. G. 5, 7: “Septentriones,” Cic. Att. 9, 6, 3: “turbo,” Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 47; id. Trin. 4, 1, 16.—Prov.
1. Of labor lost: “in vento et aquā scribere,” Cat. 70, 4; so, “profundere verba ventis,” to talk to the wind, Lucr. 4, 931 (928); cf.: “verba dare in ventos,” Ov. Am. 1, 6, 42: “ventis loqui,” Amm. 15, 5, 8.—
2. Rem tradere ventis, to oblivion, Hor. C. 1, 26, 3. —
3. Ventis verba dare, i. q. not to keep one's word or promise, Ov. H. 2, 25 Ruhnk. —
4. Vento vivere, to live upon wind or air, Cod. Just. 5, 50, 2 fin.—
5. Ventis remis facere aliquid, with all one's might; v. remus. —
B. Plur., personified as deities, the winds: te, Apollo sancte, fer opem; teque, omnipotens Neptune, invoco; Vosque adeo, Venti! Turpil. ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 34, 73 (Com. Rel. v. 119 Rib.); Lucr. 5, 1230 (1228); cf. Ov. H. 17 (18), 37.—
C. Transf.
1. Windiness, flatulence, Col. 6, 30, 8.—
2. A light stuff: textilis, Poët. ap. Petr. 55 fin.—
II. Trop., the wind, as a symbol of fortune (favorable or unfavorable), fame, applause, etc.: quicumque venti erunt, ars certe nostra non aberit, however the winds may blow, i. e. whatever circumstances may arise, Cic. Fam. 12, 25, 5: alios ego vidi ventos; “alias prospexi animo procellas,” id. Pis. 9, 21; cf.: “cujus (Caesaris) nunc venti valde sunt secundi,” id. Att. 2, 1, 6; so, “secundi,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 102: “vento aliquo in optimum quemque excitato,” by raising a storm, Cic. Sull. 14, 41: “eorum ventorum, quos proposui, moderator quidam et quasi gubernator (opus est),” i. e. of the plans, designs, id. Fam. 2, 6, 4: loqui est coeptus, quo vento proicitur Appius minor, ut indicet, etc., Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 2; cf.: “rumorum et contionum ventos colligere,” Cic. Clu. 28, 77: omnes intellegimus in istis subscriptionibus ventum quendam popularem esse quaesitum, id. ib. 47, 130.