I.spittle, saliva (in gen., while sputum is that already spit out; equally used in sing. and plur.).
I. Lit., sing., Cat. 23, 16; 78, 8; 99, 10; Juv. 6, 623; Sen. Ira, 3, 38, 2; Plin. 27, 6, 24, § 41; 28, 12, 53, § 193: “in manum ingerere,” id. 28, 4, 7, § 37 al.—Plur., Lucr. 4, 638; 4, 1108; Col. 6, 9, 3: “unā salivā,” without interruption, Hier. ad Pam. 61, 4.—
B. Transf., a spittle-like moisture, slime: “cochlearum,” slime, Plin. 30, 15, 47, § 136; cf. “ostrearum, id, 32, 6, 21, § 60: purpurarum,” id. 9, 36, 60, § 128: “lacrimationum,” id. 11, 37, 54, § 147: siderum (honey-dew), id. 11, 12, 12, § 30.—
II. Trop., taste, flavor; longing, appetite (poet., and in post-Aug. prose): “Methymnaei Graia saliva meri,” Prop. 4 (5), 8, 38. cf.: “suo cuique vino saliva,” Plin. 23, 1, 22, § 40: “mercurialis,” for gain, Pers. 5, 112: “turdarum,” id. 6, 24: “Aetna tibi salivam movet,” makes your mouth water, Sen. Ep. 79, 7: “quicquid (sc. vinum) ad salivam facit,” Petr. 48, 2.