I.even as, just as, like as.
I. Correl., with a foll. sic or ita (very rare).
A. In gen.: “velut in cantu et fidibus, sic ex corporis totius naturā et figurā varios motus ciere,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 10, 20 (al. vel ut): “cum velut Sagunti excidium Hannibali, sic, etc.,” Liv. 31, 18, 9: “velut per fistulam, ita per apertam vitis medullam umor trahitur,” Col. 3, 18, 5.—
B. In partic., to introduce comparisons: veluti Consul, cum, etc. ... sic exspectabat populus, etc., Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 87 Vahl.): “ac veluti magno in populo cum saepe coorta est Seditio ... Sic, etc.,” Verg. A. 1 148; v. infra, II. B. 2., and atque, II. 4.—
II. Absol.
A. In gen.: “studeo hunc lenonem perdere, velut meum erum macerat,” Plaut. Poen. 4, 1, 2: “cum repente instructas velut in acie certo gradulegiones accedere Galli viderent,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 9: “ne vitam silentio transeant veluti pecora, quae, etc.,” Sall. C. 1, 1: “veluti qui sentibus anguem Pressit,” Verg. A. 2, 379. —With abl. absol.: “cum velut inter pugnae fugaeque consilium trepidante equitatu,” Liv. 1, 14, 8 Weissenb. ad loc.; cf. id. 1, 31, 3; 1, 29, 4; 1, 53, 5; 2, 12, 13.—
B. In partic.
1. To connect, by way of example, a single instance with an established general proposition, as, for instance, for example: “hoc est incepta efficere pulchre, veluti mihi Evenit, ut ovans praedā onustus incederem,” Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 145; id. Rud. 3, 1, 4; id. Merc. 2, 1, 3; cf. id. Aul. 3, 4, 3; id. Curc. 5, 3, 4; id. Truc. 2, 1, 35; 2, 7, 19: “numquam tam male est Siculis, quin aliquid facete et commode dicant: veluti in hac re aiebant, In labores Herculis, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 95: “ut illi dubia quaedam res ... probetur: velut apud Socraticum Aeschinem demonstrat Socrates, etc.,” id. Inv. 1, 31, 51: “est etiam admiratio nonnulla in bestiis aquatilibus iis, quae gignuntur in terrā. Veluti crocodili, etc.,” id. N. D. 2, 48, 124; id. Fin. 2, 35, 116; cf.: “multa conjecta sunt aliud alio tempore, velut hoc, etc.,” id. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 7, § 23: “velut in hac quaestione plerique dixerunt,” id. N. D. 1, 1, 2: “velut iste chorus virtutum in eculeum inpositus imagines constituit,” id. Tusc. 5, 5, 13: “aliae quoque artes minores habent multiplicem materiam, velut architectonice,” Quint. 2, 21, 8: “sermonibus ejus fruebar, veluti fuit illa sermocinatio,” Gell. 19, 8, 1.—
2. To introduce a comparison or figurative expression, as, like, as it were: concurrunt veluti venti, cum spiritus Austri, etc., Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 2 (Ann. v. 423 Vahl.); 6, 3 (ib. v. 431 ib.): “frena dabat Sipylus, veluti cum, etc.,” Ov. M. 6, 231: “migrantes cernas totāque ex urbe ruentes, Ac, veluti ingentem formicae farris acervum Cum populant, etc.,” Verg. A. 4, 402; cf. “supra, I. B.: hic velut hereditate relictum odium paternum conservavit, etc.,” Nep. Hann. 1, 3: “quoddam simplex orationis condimentum, quod sentitur latente judicio velut palato,” Quint. 6, 3, 19: “ducetur rerum ipsā serie velut duce,” id. 10, 7, 6: haec velut sagina dicendi, id. 10, 5, 17: “inaequalia tantum et velut confragosa,” id. 8, 5, 29: “haec est velut imperatoria virtus,” id. 7, 10, 13.—
3. To introduce a hypothetical comparative clause, just as if, just as though, as if, as though.
a. Usually velut si: “absentis Ariovisti crudelitatem, velut si coram adesset, horrerent,” Caes. B. G. 1, 32: “tantus patres metus de summā rerum cepit, velut si jam ad portas hostis esset,” Liv. 21, 16, 2; Quint. 2, 13, 1: “velut si urbem adgressurus Scipio foret, ita, etc.,” Liv. 29, 28, 9: “facies inducitur illis (corporibus mixtis) Una, velut si quis, etc.,” Ov. M. 4, 375.—
b. Sometimes, in this sense, velut alone: “saepe, velut gemmas ejus signumque probarem, Per causam memini me tetigisse manum,” Tib. 1, 6, 25 (21); Ov. M. 4, 596: “velut ea res nihil ad religionem pertinuisset,” Liv. 2, 36, 1: “velut abundarent omnia,” id. 2, 41, 9: “me quoque juvat, velut ipse in parte laboris ac periculi fuerim, ad finem pervenisse, etc.,” id. 31, 1, 1 Weissenb. ad loc.