I.a breaking round; hence, a bending, recurving, turning (in the ante-class. per. rare; v. the preced. art.).
I. Lit.: “quid pulchrius eā figurā (sc. sphaericā) quae nihil incisum anfractibus, nihil eminens, habere potest?” Cic. N. D. 2, 18, 47.—Hence, of the circular motion of the sun (acc. to the ancient belief): “solis anfractus,” a circuit, revolution, Cic. Rep. 6, 12; cf. id. Leg. 2, 8.—Of the crookedness of horns: “cornua convoluta in anfractum,” Plin. 11, 37, 45, § 124.—Of the coils of a serpent, Val. Fl. 7, 523; Stat. Th. 5, 520.—Also freq., particularly in the histt., of the turning or winding of a road, etc., a tortuous, circuitous route: “si nullus anfractus intercederet,” Caes. B. G. 7, 46: “illa (via) altero tanto longiorem habebat anfractum,” Nep. Eum. 8, 5: “per anfractus jugi procurrere,” Liv. 44, 4: “anfractus viarum,” id. 33, 1: “litorum anfractus,” the windings, id. 38, 7 al.; Luc. 1, 605. —
II. Trop., of discourse, = ambages, circumlocution, digression: “quid opus est circuitione et anfractu?” Cic. Div. 2, 61, 127: “oratio circumscripta non longo anfractu, sed ad spiritum vocis apto,” id. Part. Or. 6, 21: “quae omnia infinitus anfractus habent,” ramifications, Quint. 6, 1, 15, where Bonn. and Halm read tractatus.—Of legal matters, intricacies, prolixity: “judiciorum,” Cic. Clu. 56, 159: “juris,” Quint. 12, 9, 3.
