I.the being callidus, in a good or bad sense.
I. In a good sense, shrewdness, skill, skilfulness, readiness, aptness (so several times after the Aug. period): “calliditas ingenii,” Nep. Eum. 1, 3; Ov. F. 3, 380; Plin. 37, 12, 74, § 195; Tac. Agr. 9; Flor. 2, 17, 15; Cic. Har. Resp. 9, 19.—Far more freq. and class.,
II. In a bad sense, cunning, craft, slyness, artfulness: “scientia, quae est remota ab justitiā, calliditas potius quam sapientia est appellanda,” Cic. Off. 1, 19, 63; 3, 32, 113; id. Rosc. Com. 7, 20; id. Har. Resp. 9, 19; id. Or. 39, 137; Quint. 2, 5, 7; 4, 2, 126; Ov. H. 16, 300; 20, 126; Mart. 11, 50, 2 al.—Of stratagem in war, Liv. 42, 47, 7: “calliditas ad robur accesserat,” Flor. 3, 4, 3.—Trop., of oratorical artifice: “genus ejusmodi calliditatis atque calumniae,” Cic. Part. Or. 39, 137.—In plur.: “servi venere in mentem Syri Calliditates,” Ter. Heaut. 5, 1, 14; Lact. 2, 12, 17.
