I. In gen., a maker, producer (ante-class.): “nec fallaciam Astutiorem ullus fecit poëta,” a contriver, trickster, Plaut. Cas. 5, 1, 7: “tu poëta es prorsus ad eam rem unicus,” you are just fit for it, id. As. 4, 1, 3.—
II. In partic., a poet (class.; syn. vates): visus Homerus adesse poëta, Enn. ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 16, 51 (Ann. v. 6 Vahl.); Cic. de Or. 2, 46, 194: “oratores et poëtae,” id. ib. 3, 10, 39: “versificator quam poëta melior,” Quint. 10, 1, 89: “pictoribus atque poëtis Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas,” Hor. A. P. 9: “expectes eadem a summo minimoque poëtā,” Juv. 1, 14: “judex absolvit injuriarum eum, qui Lucilium poëtam in scenā nominatim laeserat,” Auct. Her. 2, 3, 19: unum (genus deorum) a poëtis traditum, Aug. Civ. Dei, 4, 27 init.
