I.that is taught wisdom by experience and practice, shrewd, expert, experienced, adroit, skilful: “versutos eos appello, quorum celeriter mens versatur: callidos autem, quorum, tamquam manus opere, sic animus usu concalluit,” Cic. N. D. 3, 10, 25.
I. Ingenious, prudent, dexterous, skilful.
A. In gen. (class.): “ad suum quaestum, callidus,” Plaut. As. 1, 3, 34; id. Truc. 2, 4, 62 (cf. id. ib. 2, 5, 40: omnes homines ad suum quaestum callent); id. Ps. 2, 4, 35; id. Ep. 3, 3, 47; id. Poen. 1, 2, 25: callida Musa, Calliope, * Lucr. 6, 93: “ego ut agitator callidus, priusquam ad fidem veniam, equos sustinebo,” Cic. Ac. 2, 29, 94: “natura nihil potest esse callidius,” id. N. D. 2, 57, 142: “Demosthene nec gravior exstitit quisquam nec callidior, nec temperatior,” id. Or. 7, 23: “juvenis parum callidus,” Plin. Ep. 7, 6, 11: “in disputando,” Quint. 12, 2, 14.—In reference to art, excelling in art, skilful, Hor. S. 2, 3, 23 Heind.; 2, 7, 101; id. Ep. 1, 10, 26. —
B. Particular constructions.
(α).
With gen.: “rei rusticae,” Col. 2, 2, 1: “rerum naturae,” id. 7, 3, 12: “rei militaris,” Tac. H. 2, 32: “temporum,” id. A. 4, 33.—
(γ).
In the Greek manner, with inf.: “callidus Condere furto,” Hor. C. 1, 10, 7; cf.: “tuque testudo resonare septem Callida nervis,” id. ib. 3, 11, 4; Pers. 1, 118.—
C. Meton., of things: foramina callidissimo artificio naturā fabricata, very well contrived or wrought, Cic. Tusc. 1, 20, 47: “inventum,” Nep. Eum. 5, 4: “junctura,” Hor. A. P. 47.—
II. Crafty, cunning, artful, sly.
A. Of persons (class.): “itaque me malum esse oportet, callidum, astutum,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 112: “malum crudumque et callidum atque subdolum,” id. Poen. 5, 2, 148; id. Pers. 4, 4, 70; id. Cist. 4, 2, 61: “ego hominem callidiorem vidi neminem,” Ter. Phorm. 4, 2, 1; id. And. 1, 2, 27; id. Eun. 5, 6, 10; Petr. 4, 2, 1: “hi saepe versutos homines et callidos admirantes, malitiam sapientiam judicant,” Cic. Off. 2, 3, 10 Beier; id. Caecin. 19, 55; cf. id. Off. 3, 13, 57; Quint. 6, 3, 96: “homo luteus etiam callidus ac veterator esse vult,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 14, § 35: “gens non astuta nec callida,” Tac. G. 22: “ad fraudem callidi,” Cic. Clu. 65, 183; cf. Plaut. As. 2, 1, 9: “in disputando mire callidos,” Quint. 12, 2, 14: “amici accendendis offensionibus callidi,” Tac. A. 2, 57.—
B. Meton., of things: “doli,” Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 4: “consilium,” Ter. And. 3, 4, 10: “audacia,” Cic. Clu. 65, 183: “callida et malitiosa juris interpretatio,” id. Off. 1, 10, 33: “liberalitas,” crafty, calculating, Nep. Att. 11, 3: “malitia inimici,” Liv. 38, 44, 1: “cunctatio,” Suet. Tib. 24: “saevitia,” id. Dom. 11.—
2. Trop.: “merx, of a woman,” Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 61.—Hence, adv.: callĭdē (in both signiff. of the adj. freq. and class.).
1. Skilfully, shrewdly, expertly, etc.: “callide nosse aliquem,” well, Plaut. As. 2, 2, 82: “intellegere,” Ter. And. 1, 2, 30: “callide arguteque dicere,” Cic. Or. 28, 98: “dicere,” id. de Or. 1, 20, 93: “callide et perite versari,” id. ib. 1, 11, 48: “sine quo nihil satis caute, nihil satis callide agi posset,” id. Caecin. 5, 15 al.—Comp., Tac. A. 6, 37.—Sup., Nep. Them. 1 fin.—