I.loveliness, comeliness, charm, grace, beauty, elegance, attractiveness, etc. (syn.: pulchritudo, formositas).
I. Of the body: “cum pulchritudinis duo genera sint, quorum in altero venustas sit, in altero dignitas, venustatem muliebrem ducere debemus, dignitatem virilem,” Cic. Off. 1, 36, 130; cf. id. ib. 1, 30, 17: “venustas et pulchritudo corporis,” id. ib. 1, 27, 95: “voltus quantam affert tum dignitatem, tum venustatem,” id. Or. 18, 60.— Transf., of inanim. things: “signa eximiā venustate,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 3, § 5: “Capitolii fastigium illud non venustas sed necessitas ipsa fabricata est,” id. de Or. 3, 46, 180: “pomorum,” Varr. R. R. 1, 59, 2.—
II. Of the mind: “homo affluens omni lepore et venustate,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142: “(oratoris est) agere cum dignitate ac venustate,” id. de Or. 1, 31, 142: “dicendi vis egregia, summā festivitate et venustate conjuncta profuit,” id. ib. 1, 57, 243: “comprobari cum dignitate tum etiam venustate,” id. Arch. 12, 31; Quint. 4, 2, 118; 9, 2, 66; 9, 3, 72: “verborum,” Gell. 17, 20, 6: “tui quidem omnes mores ad venustatem valent,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 63; cf. id. ib. 3, 1, 54; id. Truc. 4, 2, 4: “diem pulchrum et venustatis plenum,” pleasantness, pleasure, id. Poen. 1, 2, 44; cf.: “quis me fortunatior, venustatisque adeo plenior,” Ter. Hec. 5, 4, 8.—Plur.: “amoenitates omnium venerum atque venustatum affero,” Plaut. Stich. 2, 1, 5; id. Ps. 5, 1, 12.