I. In gen., leisure, vacant time, freedom from business (class.; opp. negotium; cf.: immunitas, vacatio): otio qui nescit uti plus negoti habet, Quam, etc., Enn. ap. Gell. 19, 10, 12 (Trag. v. 252 Vahl.): fecero; “quamquam haut otium est,” Plaut. Poen. 4, 2, 36: “tantumne ab re tuast oti tibi?” Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 23: clarorum virorum atque magnorum non minus otii quam negotii rationem exstare oportere, Cato ap. Cic. Planc. 27, 66: “in otio de negotiis cogitare,” Cic. Off. 3, 1, 1: “otium inertissimum et desidiosissimum,” id. Agr. 2, 33, 91.—
II. In partic.
A. Ease, inactivity, idle life (cf.: “ignavia, desidia, inertia): vitam in otio agere,” Ter. Ad. 5, 4, 9: “hebescere et languescere in otio,” Cic. Ac. 2, 2, 4: “propter desidiam in otio vivere,” id. Agr. 2, 37, 103: “otio tabescere,” id. Att. 2, 14, 1: “languere otio,” id. N. D. 1, 4, 7: “otium segne trahere,” Tac. H. 4, 70: “magna otia caeli,” Juv. 6, 394: “otium sine litteris mors est,” Sen. Ep. 82, 2: “ducere otia segnia,” Ov. P. 1, 5, 44: “exercere otia molli cura,” Sil. 15, 707. —
B. Leisure, time for any thing; “esp. for literary occupation: otium moderatum atque honestum,” Cic. Brut. 2, 8: ad scribendum, id. Or. 1, 1, 3: “otium consumere in historiā scribendā,” id. de Or. 2, 13, 57: “otium litteratum,” id. Tusc. 5, 36, 105: “Tusculani requies atque otium,” id. de Or. 1, 52, 224: “studiosum,” Plin. Ep. 1, 22, 11: “abundare otio et studio,” Cic. de Or. 1, 6, 22: “otium rei si sit,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 165: “otium habere ad potandum,” Ter. Phorm. 5, 5, 3: “auscultandi,” time to hear, id. Ad. 3, 65: “horum libros delectationi causa, cum est otium, legere soleo,” when I have time, Cic. de Or. 2, 14, 59: “si modo tibi est otium,” if you have time, id. Part. Or. 1, 1: “otium studio suppeditare,” to devote time to study, Auct. Her. 1, 1, 1: “cum in otium venerimus,” Cic. Att. 1, 7: “me alebat Parthenope studiis florentem ignobilis oti,” i. e. unwarlike, peaceful leisure, Verg. G. 4, 564.—
2. The fruit of leisure: “otia nostra,” i. e. my poems, Ov. Tr. 2, 224.—
C. Rest, repose, quiet, peace (opp. bellum), Ter. Ad. prol. 20: “pax, tranquillitas, otium,” Cic. Agr. 2, 37, 102: “mollia peragebant otia,” enjoyed calm repose, Ov. M. 1, 100: “multitudo insolens belli diuturnitate otii,” Caes. B. C. 2, 36: “res ad otium deducere,” id. ib. 1, 5: “valde me ad otium pacemque converto,” Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 5, 5: “ex maximo bello tantum otium toti insulae conciliavit,” Nep. Tim. 3, 2: “studia per otium concelebrata,” in times of peace, Cic. Inv. 1, 3, 4: “ab hoste otium fuit,” Liv. 3, 32: “ab seditionibus urbanis,” id. 3, 35: “otium bello (rogare),” Hor. C. 2, 16, 5; 4, 15, 18: “quies aëris et otium et tranquillitas,” Sen. Q. N. 1, 2, 8: “operis otium,” Plin. 11, 10, 10, § 25.—
D. Adverb.
1. Abl. otio, at leisure, leisurely: “quam libet lambe otio,” Phaedr. 1, 24, 6.—
2. Per otium, at leisure: “spolia legere,” Liv. 27, 2.
