I.neutr., Varr. L. L. 7, § 50 and 9, § 73 Müll. acc. to Lachm.) [Gr. ἕσπερος, ἑσπέρα], the evening, even, eve, even-tide.
I. Lit.: “jam diei vesper erat,” Sall. J. 52, 3; 106, 2: “vesper fit (late Lat. for advesperascit),” Vulg. Matt. 14, 15; 16, 2; 26, 20: “ad vesperum,” Cic. Lael. 3, 12; id. Fin. 2, 28, 92 Madv.; 3, 2, 8; Caes. B. C. 1, 3; id. B. G. 1, 26: “sub vesperum,” towards evening, id. ib. 2, 33; 5, 58; 7, 60; id. B. C. 1, 42.—Prov.: “nescis, quid vesper serus vehat, the title of a satire by Varro,” Gell. 13, 11, 1; Macr. S. 1, 7; cf.: “denique, quid vesper serus vehat,” Verg. G. 1, 461: “cum quid vesper ferat, incertum sit,” Liv. 45, 8: de vesperi suo vivere, on his own supper, i. e. to be one's own master, Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 5; cf. id. Rud. 1, 2, 91.—
B. Esp., abl. adverb., in the evening.
1. Form vespere: “primo vespere,” Caes. B. C. 2, 43: “litteras reddidit a. d. VIII. Id. Mart. vespere,” Cic. Att. 11, 12, 1.—
2. Form vesperi: “cum ad me in Tusculanum heri vesperi venisset Caesar,” Cic. de Or. 2, 3, 13; id. Ac. 1, 1, 1; id. Mil. 20, 54; Plaut. Bacch. 2, 3, 62; id. Mil. 2, 5, 29; id. Rud. 1, 2, 91; Ter. And. 4, 4, 29: “neque tam vesperi revortor,” so late, id. Heaut. 1, 1, 15: “primā vesperi (sc. horā),” Caes. B. C. 1, 20.—
II. Transf.
A. The evening-star, Plin. 2, 8, 6, § 36; Verg. G. 1, 251: “vespero surgente,” Hor. C. 2, 9, 10: “puro Vespero,” id. ib. 3, 19, 26.—
B. The West, Occident, Ov. Tr. 1, 2, 28; id. M. 1, 63: “vespere ab atro,” Verg. A. 5, 19.—Hence, for the inhabitants of the West, Occidentals, Sil. 3, 325.