I. In gen., a letting go, sending away, a sending, despatching; a throwing, hurling (class.): “litterarum,” Cic. Att. 1, 5, 3: “legatorum,” id. Phil. 7, 1, 1: “extra telorum missionem,” beyond the range of missiles, Vitr. 2, 9, 16; 1, 5, 4: “missio sanguinis,” blood-letting, Cels. 2, 10 fin.; Suet. Calig. 29.—
II. In partic.
A. A release from captivity, setting at liberty, liberation: “munus pro missione dare,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 48, 114: “si filius familias post missionem faciat testimentum,” Gai. Inst. 2, 106.—
B. A discharge from service (of soldiers, office-holders, gladiators, etc.), a dismission (syn. exauctoratio): “praemium missionis ferre,” Caes. B. C. 1, 86: quibus (militibus) senatus missionem reditumque in patriam negāsset ante belli finem. Liv. 26, 1: “exercitum purgare missionibus turbulentorum hominum,” id. 7, 39; cf.: missionum generales causae sunt tres: honesta, causaria, ignominiosa. Honesta est, quae tempore militiae impleto datur: causaria cum quis vitio animi vel corporis minus idoneus militiae renunciatur; “ignominiosa causa est, cum quis propter delictum sacramento solvitur,” Dig. 49, 16, 13: “gratiosa ante emerita stipendia,” a discharge obtained by favor, Liv. 43, 14, 9: “nondum justa,” id. 43, 14, 15.—Of a quaestor, Suet. Caes. 7.—
C. Esp., of gladiators, release, respite, quarter: cum Myrino peteretur missio laeso, Mart. 12, 29, 7: “non enim servavit is, qui non interfecit, nec beneficium dedit, sed missionem,” Sen. Ben. 2, 20, 3.—Hence, sine missione, without favor, without quarter, to the death, Liv. 41, 20, 12.—Trop.: “quid prodest, paucos dies aut annos lucrificare? sine missione nascimur,” without respite in the service of wisdom, Sen. Ep. 37, 2: “sine missione pugnatum est,” for life or death, Flor. 3, 20, 4.—
D. A cessation, termination, end: “ante ludorum missionem,” Cic. Fam. 5, 12, 8.—
E. Remission from punishment: missionem puero dedit, qs. let him go, Petr. 52.—
