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gustus , ūs, m. kindred with Sanscr. ǵush, to be fond of; Gr. γεύω, γεύομαι, γεῦσις, taste,
I.a tasting of food, a partaking slightly or eating a little of any thing (mostly post-Aug.; not in Cic.; cf.: gustatus, sapor).
I. Lit.
1. In gen.: “minister inferre epulas et explorare gustu solitus,” Tac. A. 12, 66: “explorare aliquid gustu,” Col. 1, 8, 18; 2, 2, 20; cf. Plin. 31, 10, 46, § 114: “gustu libata potio,” Tac. A. 13, 16: “cum ille ad primum gustum concidisset,” Suet. Ner. 33: “sine crebro salis gustu,” Plin. 31, 6, 32, § 61.—
2. In partic.
a. A light dish at the beginning of a Roman meal, an antepast, whet, relish, = gustatio, Mart. 11, 31, 4; 11, 52, 12: “gustus elementa per omnia quaerunt,” Juv. 11, 14.—Also in a neutr. form: “gustum versatile sic facies,” Apic. 4, 5, § 181 sqq.—
b. A draught of water: “profer ex illa amphora gustum,” Petr. 77 fin.—
B. Transf., taste, flavor, = sapor (post-Aug.): “attrahatur spiritu is sucus, donec in ore gustus ejus sentiatur,” Cels. 6, 8, 6; Col. 3, 2, 24; Plin. 14, 1, 3, § 12; 26, 8, 50, § 82; 27, 12, 96, § 121 sq.—
II. Trop. (post-Aug.).
A. (Acc. to I. 2. a.) A foretaste, specimen: “ad hunc gustum totum librum repromitto,” Plin. Ep. 4, 27, 5: “expetens versificationis nostrae gustum,” Col. 11, 1, 2: “gustum tibi dare volui,” Sen. Ep. 114, 18.—
B. (Acc. to I. B.) Taste: “urbanitas significat sermonem praeferentem in verbis et sono et usu proprium quendam gustum urbis,” Quint. 6, 3, 17.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (12 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (12):
    • Tacitus, Annales, 12.66
    • Tacitus, Annales, 13.16
    • Suetonius, Nero, 33
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 14.12
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 26.82
    • Pliny the Younger, Epistulae, 4.27.5
    • A. Cornelius Celsus, De Medicina, 6.8
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 6, 3.17
    • Seneca, Epistulae, 114.18
    • Columella, Res Rustica, 1.8.18
    • Columella, Res Rustica, 2.2.20
    • Columella, Res Rustica, 3.2.24
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