I. (Acc. to sapiens, A.) Prop., good taste, i. e. good sense, discernment, discretion, prudence, intelligence (class.; syn. prudentia): pellitur e medio sapientia, vi geritur res, Enn. ap. Gell. 20, 10, 4 (Ann. v. 272 Vahl.): “non aetate verum ingenio adipiscitur sapientia,” Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 88; id. Mil. 4, 6, 36: “fac participes nos tuae sapientiae,” id. Ep. 2, 2, 73; cf.: “neque habet (erus meus) plus sapientiae quam lapis,” id. Mil. 2, 2, 81; id. Capt. 2, 3, 53; cf. id. ib. 2, 3, 50: “sedulo Moneo, quae possum, pro meā sapientiā,” Ter. Ad. 3, 3, 73: “quanta mea sapientia est,” Plaut. Stich. 1, 2, 62: “erum anteëo sapientiā,” Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 17: “re enim iniquum est, sed tuā sapientiā fit aequissimum,” Cic. Deiot. 2, 4: “numquam enim temeritas cum sapientiā commiscetur,” id. Marcell. 2, 7: “quid virtus et quid sapientia possit, etc.,” Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 17: “sapientia prima (est), stultitiā caruisse,” id. ib. 1, 1, 41; cf. id. A. P. 396: “insaniens sapientia,” id. C. 1, 34, 2.—
II. (Acc. to sapiens, B.) Wisdom, = σοφία (so predominantly in the class. per., e. g. in Cic.): nec quisquam sophiam, sapientia quae perhibetur, In somnis vidit, etc., Enn. ap. Fest. p. 325 Müll. (Ann. v. 227 Vahl.); cf.: Sophiam vocant me Graii, vos Sapientiam, Afran. ap. Gell. 13, 8, 3; and: princeps omnium virtutum illa sapientia, quam σοφίαν Graeci vocant, Cic. Off. 1, 43, 153: “ad sapientiam hujus nimius nugator fuit,” Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 25: “ita fit, ut mater omnium bonarum rerum sit sapientia, a cujus amore Graeco verbo philosophia nomen invenit,” Cic. Leg. 1, 22, 58: “sapientia hominis custos,” id. Fin. 4, 1, 1; id. Lael. 2, 7; 6, 20; 9, 30: “omnem spem salutis ad clementiam victoris et sapientiam contulisse,” id. Marcell. 6, 18: “quorum vobis pro vestrā sapientiā, Quirites, habenda est ratio diligenter,” id. Imp. Pomp. 7, 17: “sapientiae vocem audire,” id. Phil. 13, 3, 6: “studia sapientiae,” Tac. A. 14, 56: “doctores sapientiae,” philosophers, id. ib. 14, 16. —With gen.: “admirari soleo cum ceterarum rerum tuam excellentem, M. Cato, perfectamque sapientiam tum, etc.,” in other things, Cic. Sen. 2, 4.—In plur., sarcastically: qui (sapientes) si virtutes ebullire volent et sapientias, nihil aliud dicent, nisi, etc. (the plur. denoting their perpetual speaking of wisdom), a saying referred to Epicurus, Cic. Tusc. 3, 18, 42.—
B. In partic., of single departments of knowledge, science, or wisdom, practical wisdom, knowledge of the world, philosophy, Lucr. 5, 10: “sapientia est, ut a veteribus philosophis definitum est, rerum divinarum et humanarum causarumque, quibus eae res continentur, scientia,” Cic. Off. 2, 2, 5: “sapientia, quae ars vivendi putanda est,” id. Fin. 1, 13, 42 (for which: “ars est philosophia vitae,” id. ib. 3, 2, 4).—Of jurisprudence: “istam oscitantem sapientiam Scaevolarum et ceterorum beatorum otio concedamus,” Cic. de Or. 2, 33, 144; cf.: “his temporibus audaciā pro sapientiā liceat uti,” id. Fam. 1, 10 init. —Of eloquence: hanc cogitandi pronunciandique rationem vimque dicendi veteres Graeci sapientiam nominabant, Cic. de Or. 3, 15, 56.—Of statesmanship, policy: “sapientia constituendae civitatis,” Cic. de Or. 2, 37, 154; cf.: “qui propter ancipitem, quae non potest esse sejuncta, faciendi dicendique sapientiam florerent,” id. ib. 3, 16, 59. —Of mathematics: “sapientiae professor,” Suet. Tib. 14.
