Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.neutr. collat. form, plur. volta, Enn. ap. Non. p. 230, 15, or Ann. v. 536 Vahl.; Lucr. 4, 1213) [etym. dub.; cf. Goth. vulthus, glory], an expression of countenance, the countenance, visage, as to features and expression; hence, often to be translated by features, looks, air, mien, expression, aspect (syn. aspectus).

I. Lit.

A. In gen., sing.: nam et oculi nimis arguti, quemadmodum animo affecti sumus, loquuntur, et is qui appellatur vultus, qui nullo in animante esse praeter hominem potest, indicat: “cujus vim Graeci norunt. nomen omnino non habent,” Cic. Leg. 1, 9, 27: “imago animi vultus est, indices oculi,” id. de Or. 3, 59, 221: “ea, quae nobis non possumus fingere, facies, voltus, sonus,” id. ib. 1, 28, 127: “oculi, supercilia, frons, vultus denique totus, qui sermo quidam tacitus mentis est, hic in fraudem homines impulit,” id. Pis. 1, 1: “vultus atque nutus,” id. Lael. 25, 93: “acer in hostem,” Hor. C. 1, 2, 40: “torvus,” id. Ep. 1, 19, 12: “maestus,” id. A. P. 106: “tali vultu gemens,” Ov. Tr. 3, 4, 37: “qui spiritus illi, Qui voltus,” Verg. A. 5, 649; cf.: “voltus tuus, cui regendum me tradidi,” Sen. Ben. 6, 7, 1.— Plur.: “vultus mehercule tuos mihi expressit omnes,” Cic. Fam. 12, 30, 3: “ficti simulatique vultus,” id. Clu. 26, 72: “non modo severitatem illorum, sed ne vultus quidem ferre possemus,” id. Planc. 18, 45: “tenere vultus mutantem Protea,” Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 90: “super omnia vultus Accessere boni,” kindly, Ov. M. 8, 677: “vultus modo sumit acerbos,” id. Tr. 5, 8, 17.—

B. In partic., an angry countenance, stern look, grim visage (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “(justum virum) Non vultus instantis tyranni Mente quatit solidā,” Hor. C. 3, 3, 3; id. S. 1, 6, 121; 2, 7, 44; Tac. A. 1, 12; Vulg. Psa. 20, 10; 33, 17. —

II. Transf.

1. In gen., the face (syn.: facies, os): simiae vultum subire, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 12, 2: “bracchia et vultum teretesque suras laudo,” Hor. C. 2, 4, 21: “petamque vultus umbra curvis unguibus,” id. Epod. 5, 93; so in the plur., Ov. M. 5, 59; 5, 217; 5, 292; 6, 630; Mart. 1, 32, 5; Plin. 26, 1, 2, § 2 al.—

2. In partic., a painted face, portrait, likeness: “vultus Epicurios per cubicula gestant,” Plin. 35, 2, 2, § 5; Vop. Prob. 23; Treb. Poll. Claud. 14.—

3. The face, look, appearance (poet.): “vultus capit illa priores,” Ov. M. 1, 738: “inque nitentem Inachidos vultus mutaverat ille juvencam,” id. ib. 1, 611.—Of things: “unus erat toto naturae vultus in orbe,” Ov. M. 1, 6: “salis placidi,” Verg. A. 5, 848.