bes

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

bes: bessis, m. (nom. bessis, Paul. ex Fest. p. 33 Müll.; Prisc. Ponder. p. 1348 P.) [be-is = binae partes assis.
I Two thirds of a unit (the as); eight unciae, or twelfths (cf. as): bessis octo sunt unciae (8/12 = 2/3), triens quattuor, Paul. ex Fest. l. l.
   A As a coin: fenus ex triente Idib. Quint. factum erat bessibus, i. e. instead of the previous monthly interest of 1/3 %, 2/3 % was now reckoned; thus, acc. to the present mode of calculating, for the year, the interest advanced from 4 % (12X1/3) to 8 % (12X2/3), * Cic. Att. 4, 15, 7.—
   B In gen., two thirds of any whole.
   1    Of shares in a partnership: Nerva constituit, ut tu ex triente socius esses, ego ex besse, Dig. 17, 2, 76.—
   2    Of a sum of money: exsolvere bessem pretii, Dig. 17, 1, 12.—
   3    Of a tract of land: emere bessem fundi, Dig. 16, 21, 2, § 39: bisque novem, Nemeaee, dabis, bessemque (i. e. eight months) sub illis, Manil. 3, 367.—
   4    Of a jugerum: partes duae tertiae pedes decem novem milia et ducentos, hoc est bes, in quo sunt scripula CXCII., Col. 5, 1, 11.—
   5    Of a measure of capacity: bes sextarii, Scrib. Comp. 126.—
   6    Of a pound, = 8 ounces: in binos semodios farinae satis esse bessem fermenti, Plin. 18, 11, 26, § 102; Scrib. Comp. 157.—
   7    Of an inheritance: heres ex besse, Plin. Ep. 7, 24, 2.—
   C Meton. for eight: quincunces et sex cyathos bessemque bibamus, Caïus ut fiat Julius et Proculus (i. e. so many letters were comprised in these names; cf. 1. bibo, 2. e.), Mart. 11, 36, 7 and 8.—
   D Bes alter = (12+8)/12 = 1 2/3, Fest. s. v. triens, p. 363 Müll.—
II In mathematics, where the cardinal number is six (cf. as !*?), bes = 4, Gr. δίμοιρος, Vitr. 3, 1, p. 61 Rod. and bes alter = (6+4)/6 = 1 2/3, Gr. ἐπιδίμοιρος, id. ib.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

bēs,¹⁵ bessis, m., les 2/3 d’un tout de 12 parties :
1 [héritage] : heres ex besse Plin. Min. Ep. 7, 24, 2, héritier des 2/3
2 [poids] les 2/3 d’une livre, huit onces : Plin. 18, 102
3 les 2/3 d’un arpent : Col. Rust. 5, 1, 11
4 [intérêt] 2/3 \\% par mois = 8 \\% par an : Cic. Att. 4, 15, 7
5 = huit : bessem bibamus Mart. 11, 36, 7, buvons huit coupes
6 [math.] 2/3 de 6 [nombre parfait] = 4 : Vitr. Arch. 3, 1, 6.