latrunculus
οἷς πρόθεσίς ἐστιν ἀδικεῖν, παρ' αὐτοῖς οὐδὲ δικαία ἀπολογία ἰσχύει → not even a just excuse means anything to those bent on injustice | the tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny | any excuse will serve a tyrant
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
lā̆truncŭlus: i, m.
dim. 2. latro.
I A highwayman, robber, freebooter, brigand: mastrucati latrunculi, Cic. Prov. Cons. 7, 15: hostes sunt, quibus bellum publice populus Romanus decrevit, vel ipsi populo Romano, ceteri latrunculi vel praedones appellantur, Dig. 49, 15, 24 (cf. the passage from Dig. 50, 16, 118, where the word latrones is used; v. 2. latro, II.): a latrunculis vel hostibus, ib. 39, 5, 34.—Of the usurper of a throne, Vop. Firm. 2, 1.—
II A man, pawn, in draughts or chess. latrunculis ludimus, Sen. Ep. 106, 11; Varr. L. L. 10, § 22 Müll.; Plin. 8, 54, 80, § 215.
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
lătruncŭlus,¹⁴ ī, m., dim. de latro,
1 soldat mercenaire : Vulg. Reg. 4, 24, 2
2 [ordint] brigand, voleur : Cic. Prov. 15 ; Ulp. Dig. 49, 15, 24 || usurpateur : Vop. Firm. 2, 1
3 pion, pièce du jeu des latroncules [sorte d’échecs] : ludere latrunculis Varro L. 10, 22, jouer aux latroncules, aux échecs, cf. Sen. Ep. 106, 11 ; Tranq. 14, 7 ; Ov. Ars 2, 207 ; 3, 358.
