I. Of or pertaining to a level field, even, flat, level, champaign, opp. montanus and collinus; cf. Liv. 10, 2, 5; 40, 38, 2; “40, 53, 3 al.: tria genera simplicia agrorum campestre, collinum et montanum,” Varr. R. R. 1, 6, 2: “campester locus,” id. ib. § 6; cf.: “vineae collinae et campestres,” Col. 12, 21, 1: “resina,” Plin. 24, 6, 22, § 34: “acer,” id. 16, 15, 26, § 67 al.: “locus,” Col. 3, 13, 8: “pars,” id. 1, 2, 3. situs, id. 7, 2, 3: “sationes,” id. 11, 3, 21: “positio,” id. 1, 2, 4: “culta,” Plin. 25, 5, 18, § 39: “campestres ac demissi loci,” Caes. B. G. 7, 72: “iter,” id. B. C. 1, 66; Liv. 21, 32, 6: “vici,” id. 40, 58, 2: “urbs,” id. 23, 45, 10. oppidum, id. 27, 39, 12: “barbari,” dwelling in plains, id. 39, 53, 13; cf. “Scythae, Hor C. 3, 24, 9: hostis,” fighting on a plain, Liv. 22, 18, 3 al.—
B. Subst.: campe-strĭa , ĭum, n., a plain, flat land, level ground, Tac. G. 43: “in campestribus,” Plin. 6, 26, 30, § 118.—
II. Relating to the Campus Martius.
A. Of the athletic exercises held there: “ludus,” Cic. Cael. 5, 11: “proelia,” contests in the Campus, Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 54: “exercitationes,” Suet. Aug. 83; id. Ner. 10: “decursio,” id. Galb. 6 fin.: “arma,” used in the contests held there, Hor. A. P 379.— Hence,
2. Subst.
a. campestre , is, n. (sc. velamentum), a leather apron worn about the loins, a wrestling-apron (orig. of the combatants in the Field of Mars; hence the name): campestria Latinum verbum est, sed ex eo dictum, quod juvenes, qui exercebantur in Campo, pudenda operiebant; “unde qui ita succincti sunt campestratos vulgus appellat, Aug. Civ Dei, 14, 17.—Also worn in hot weather under the toga, in place of the tunic,” Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 18; Vulcat. Avid. Cass. 4 al.—
b. campe-stres , ĭum, m., the deities who presided over contests, Inscr. Orell. 1358; 1794; 2101; Inscr. Don. 59, 5.—
B. Pertaining to the comitia held in the Campus Martius: “quaestus,” Cic. Har. Resp. 20, 42: gratia. Liv. 7, 1, 2: “res ex campestri certamine in senatum pervenit,” id. 32, 7, 11: “operae,” Suet. Aug. 3: “temeritas,” Val. Max. 4, 1, n 14.