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vertex (vortex ; cf. Quint. 1, 7, 25 The archaic form vortex was already disused in Cicero's time; cf. Ribbeck, Prol. Verg. 436 sq.; id. G. 1, 481 n. Wagn. The grammarian Caper distinguishes thus: vortex fluminis est, vertex capitis; but this distinction was unknown in the class. per.; v. Charis. p. 68), ĭcis, m. verto.
I. A whirl, eddy, whirlpool, vortex: secundo modo dicitur proprium inter plura, quae sunt ejusdem nominis, id, unde cetera ducta sunt: ut vertex est contorta in se aqua vel quicquid aliud similiter vertitur: inde propter flexum capillorum pars summa capitis; “ex hoc id, quod in montibus eminentissimum. Recte dixeris haec omnia vertices, proprie tamen, unde initium est,Quint. 8, 2, 7: “ut aquae circumlatae in se sorbeantur et vorticem efficiant,Sen. Q. N. 5, 13, 2: “torto vertice torrens,Verg. A. 7, 567: “illam ... rapidus vorat aequore vertex,id. ib. 1, 117: “(flumen) minores volvere vertices,Hor. C. 2, 9, 22; Ov. M. 5, 587; 8, 556; 9, 106; id. F. 6, 502; Sil. 4, 230: “citatior solito amnis transverso vertice dolia inpulit ad ripam,Liv. 23, 19, 11; 28, 30, 11; Curt. 6, 13, 16.—
B. Trop.: “amoris,Cat. 68, 107: “officiorum,Sen. Ep. 82, 2: “quā medius pugnae vocat agmina vertex,Sil. 4, 230.—
III. The top or crown of the head.
B. Transf.
1. The head (poet.) Cat. 64, 63; 64, 310: “toto vertice supra est,Verg. A. 7, 784: “nudus,id. ib. 11, 642: “moribundus,Ov. M. 5, 84: “intonsus,Stat. Th. 6, 607; Val. Fl. 4, 307.—
2. The pole of the heavens, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 41, 105; id. Rep. 6, 20, 21; Verg. G. 1, 242. —
3. The highest point, top, peak, summit of a mountain, house, tree, etc.: “ignes, qui ex Aetnae vertice erumpunt,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 106; Quint. 8, 3, 48; Lucr. 6, 467; Tib. 1, 7, 15; Ov. M. 1. 316; 13, 911; Petr. poët. 122; 134 fin.; Curt. 8, 3, 26: “in Erycino vertice,Verg. A. 5, 759; Val. Fl. 1, 700: “arcis,Lucr. 6, 750: “domus,Mart. 8, 36, 11; cf. Hor. C. 4, 11, 12: “theatri,Mart. 10, 19, 7: “quercūs,Verg. A. 3, 679: “pinūs,Ov. M. 10, 103.—Hence, a vertice, from above, down from above, Verg. G. 2, 310; id. A. 1, 114; 5, 444.—
b. Trop., the highest, uttermost, greatest (poet.): “dolorum anxiferi vertices, Cic. poët. Tusc. 2, 9, 21: principiorum,the highest officers, Amm. 15, 5, 16: “Alexandria enim vertex omnium est civitatum,id. 22, 16, 7.
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hide References (35 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (35):
    • Cicero, Against Verres, 2.4.106
    • Cicero, For Quintus Roscius the Actor, 7.20
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 12.288
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 1.316
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 5.587
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 10.103
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 5.84
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 3.679
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 5.759
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 12.673
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 1.114
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 7.567
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 7.784
    • Vergil, Georgics, 1.481
    • Vergil, Georgics, 2.310
    • Vergil, Georgics, 1.242
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 6.467
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 1.293
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 6.298
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 6.444
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 6.750
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 28, 30.11
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 23, 19
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 21, 58
    • Cicero, De Republica, 6.20
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.700
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 4.307
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 1, 11.10
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 1, 7.25
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 8, 2.7
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 8, 3.48
    • Seneca, Epistulae, 82.2
    • Ovid, Ex Ponto, 3.8
    • Statius, Thebias, 6
    • Ovid, Fasti, 6
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