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vīlis , e, adj.,
I.of small price or value, purchased at a low rate, cheap (opp. carus).
I. Lit.: “nec quicquam hic vile nunc est nisi mores mali,” Plaut. Trin. 1, 1, 10: “annona vilior,” id. Mil. 3, 1, 138: “istaec (puella) vero vilis est,” Ter. Phorm. 3, 3, 25: “istuc verbum vile est viginti minis,” Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 139: “ex eis praediis talenta argenti bina Statim capiebat ... Ac rebus vilioribus multo talenta bina,” Ter. Phorm. 5, 3, 8: “frumentum quoniam vilius erat,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 84, § 195: res vilissimae (opp. pretiosissimae), id. Fin. 2, 28, 91.—Abl. neutr. (sc. pretio), at a small price, at a low rate, cheaply: Ep. Quanti eam emit? Th. Vili, Plaut. Ep. 1, 1, 49: “vili vendere,” Mart. 12, 66, 10.— Comp.: “quod viliori praedium distraxerit ... et si non viliori vendidit, etc.,” Dig. 43, 24, 11, § 8.—Sup.: “res stipulatoris vilissimo distracta est,” Dig. 13, 4, 2 fin.—
II. Transf.
A. Of trifling value, cheap, poor, paltry, common, mean, worthless, base, vile (cf. indignus): “si honor noster vobis vilior fuisset,” Cic. Fl. 41, 103: “nihil tam vile neque tam vulgare,” id. Rosc. Am. 26, 71: “Velia non est vilior quam Lupercal,” id. Fam. 7, 20, 1: “hi quorum tibi auctoritas est videlicet cara, vita vilissima,” id. Cat. 1, 8, 19: “fidem fortunas pericula vilia habere,” Sall. C. 16, 2: “nec adeo vilis tibi vita esset nostra, ut, etc.,” Liv. 40, 9: “et genus et virtus nisi cum re vilior alga est,” Hor. S. 2, 5, 8: “inter Perfectos veteresque referri debet an inter Viles et novos?” id. Ep. 2, 1, 38: “vilis Europe,” vile, abandoned, id. C. 3, 27, 57: “tu poscis vilia rerum,” id. Ep. 1, 17, 21: “si, dum me careas, est tibi vile mori,” Ov. H. 7, 48.— Neutr. adverb.: “et vile virentes Hesperidum risit ramos,” i. e. in the ordinary manner, Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 37: vile comparati, Schol. Juv. 11, 145.—Prov.: “vile est, quod licet,” Petr. 93.—
(β). With inf.: stat fucare colos nec Sidone vilior, Ancon. Sil. 8, 438. —
B. Found in great quantities, abundant, common (poet. and rare): “poma,” Verg. G. 1, 274: “phaselus,” id. ib. 1, 227.—Hence, adv.: vīlĭter .
1. Lit., cheaply: “venire poteris intestinis vilius,” Plaut. Curc. 2, 1, 28: “vilissime constat,” Plin. 18, 6, 8, § 45: “vilissime constiterit,” Col. 9, 1, 6.—
2. Transf., meanly, poorly, vilely: “se ipsum colere,” App. Flor. 1, p. 344, 29; Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 97: “vilissime natus,” Eutr. 9, 21.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (16 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (16):
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 7.20.1
    • Cicero, For Sextus Roscius of Ameria, 26.71
    • Cicero, Against Verres, 2.3.195
    • Cicero, Against Catiline, 1.8.19
    • Plautus, Curculio, 2.1
    • Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, 3.1
    • Plautus, Trinummus, 1.1
    • Vergil, Georgics, 1.274
    • Horace, Satires, 2.5.8
    • Plautus, Epidicus, 1.1
    • Plautus, Mostellaria, 1.3
    • Sallust, Catilinae Coniuratio, 16
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 18.45
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 40, 9
    • Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, 2.28
    • Columella, Res Rustica, 9.1.6
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