I.slenderness, thinness, leanness, meagreness.
I. Lit. (class.; “syn.: macies, subtilitas): erat eo tempore in nobis summa gracilitas et infirmitas corporis,” Cic. Brut. 91, 313: “cervicis et crurum,” Suet. Calig. 50: “crurum,” id. ib. 3; id. Dom. 18: “digitalis (vitis),” Plin. 14, 3, 4, § 40; cf.: “papyrum in gracilitatem fastigatum,” id. 13, 11, 22, § 71.—Plur.: “habet certos sui studiosos (Lysias), qui non tam habitus corporis opimos, quam gracilitates consectentur,” Cic. Brut. 16, 64.—
II. Trop., of style, simplicity, plainness, want of ornament (post-Aug.): “quid Periclea? similemne credimus Lysiacae gracilitati?” Quint. 12, 10, 24; cf.: “exempla in Latina lingua M. Varro esse dicit ubertatis Pacuvium, gracilitatis Lucilium, mediocritatis Terentium,” Gell. 7, 14, 6 (v. the whole 14th chap.): “pressa illa narrationis,” Quint. 4, 3, 2; 1, 9, 2.
