I. A warrior, soldier (as capable of fighting, while miles signifies a soldier by profession; “class.): domi bellique duellatores optimi,” Plaut. Capt. prol. 68: “si tu ad legionem bellator clues, at ego in culinā Ares,” id. Truc. 2, 7, 54; id. Mil. 4, 2, 85; id. Trin. 3, 2, 97; id. Curc. 4, 3, 21; id. Bacch. 4, 9, 3; id. Ep. 3, 4, 56; id. Truc. 2, 7, 68; Cic. Balb. 23, 54: “quis est, qui aut bellatori, aut imperatori, aut oratori quaerat aliquid, etc.,” id. Tusc. 4, 24, 53; 4, 19, 43: “ecqua pacifica persona desideretur an in bellatore sint omnia,” id. Att. 8, 12, 4: “adeo Sulla dissimilis fuit bellator ac victor, ut, etc.,” Vell. 2, 25, 3: “primus bellator duxque,” Liv. 9, 1, 2: “fortes (opp. otiosi urbani),” id. 5, 20, 6; 8, 8, 17; 7, 26, 13; 1, 59, 9; Tac. A. 1, 67; 4, 49; Ov. A. A. 3, 359; Juv. 8, 10; 13, 168; Claud. Cons. Stil. 3, 12; Vulg. Isa. 3, 2 al.—Humorously of champion drinkers, Plaut. Men. 1, 3, 5.—
II. Esp. (like amator, arator, venator, etc.; v. Zumpt, Gr. § 102; in close apposition with another subst., and taking the place of an adj.), warlike, ready to fight, martial, valorous (mostly poet.): “bellator Turnus,” Verg. A. 12, 614: “bellator deus,” the war-god Mars, id. ib. 9, 721.—So esp. freq. equus, a spirited, mettlesome horse, Verg. G. 2, 145; id. A. 10, 891; 11, 89; Ov. M. 15, 368; id. F. 2, 12; Val. Fl. 2, 385; Tac. G. 14.—Also absol.: “feroci Bellatore sedens,” Juv. 7, 127: “taurus,” Stat. Th. 12, 603.—Transf., of inanim. things: “campus,” the field of battle, Stat. Th. 8, 378: “ensis,” Sil. 13, 376; “and of a stone used in play,” Ov. A. A. 3, 359.
