vultus

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

vultus: (volt-), ūs, m. (
I neutr. collat. form, <number opt="n">plur.</number> volta, Enn. ap. Non. p. 230, 15, or Ann. v. 536 Vahl.; Lucr. 4, 1213) [etym. dub.; cf. Goth. vulthus, glory, an expression of countenance, the countenance, visage, as to features and expression; hence, often to be translated by features, looks, air, mien, expression, aspect (syn. aspectus).
I Lit.
   A In gen., <number opt="n">sing.</number>: nam et oculi nimis arguti, quemadmodum animo affecti sumus, loquuntur, et is qui appellatur vultus, qui nullo in animante esse praeter hominem potest, indicat: cujus vim Graeci norunt. nomen omnino non habent, Cic. Leg. 1, 9, 27: imago animi vultus est, indices oculi, id. de Or. 3, 59, 221: ea, quae nobis non possumus fingere, facies, voltus, sonus, id. ib. 1, 28, 127: oculi, supercilia, frons, vultus denique totus, qui sermo quidam tacitus mentis est, hic in fraudem homines impulit, id. Pis. 1, 1: vultus atque nutus, id. Lael. 25, 93: acer in hostem, Hor. C. 1, 2, 40: torvus, id. Ep. 1, 19, 12: maestus, id. A. P. 106: tali vultu gemens, Ov. Tr. 3, 4, 37: qui spiritus illi, Qui voltus, Verg. A. 5, 649; cf.: voltus tuus, cui regendum me tradidi, Sen. Ben. 6, 7, 1.— Plur.: vultus mehercule tuos mihi expressit omnes, Cic. Fam. 12, 30, 3: ficti simulatique vultus, id. Clu. 26, 72: non modo severitatem illorum, sed ne vultus quidem ferre possemus, id. Planc. 18, 45: tenere vultus mutantem Protea, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 90: super omnia vultus Accessere boni, kindly, Ov. M. 8, 677: vultus modo sumit acerbos, id. Tr. 5, 8, 17.—
   B In partic., an angry countenance, stern look, grim visage (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): (justum virum) Non vultus instantis tyranni Mente quatit solidā, Hor. C. 3, 3, 3; id. S. 1, 6, 121; 2, 7, 44; Tac. A. 1, 12; Vulg. Psa. 20, 10; 33, 17. —
II Transf.
   1    In gen., the face (syn.: facies, os): simiae vultum subire, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 12, 2: bracchia et vultum teretesque suras laudo, Hor. C. 2, 4, 21: petamque vultus umbra curvis unguibus, id. Epod. 5, 93; so in the <number opt="n">plur.</number>, Ov. M. 5, 59; 5, 217; 5, 292; 6, 630; Mart. 1, 32, 5; Plin. 26, 1, 2, § 2 al.—
   2    In partic., a painted face, portrait, likeness: vultus Epicurios per cubicula gestant, Plin. 35, 2, 2, § 5; Vop. Prob. 23; Treb. Poll. Claud. 14.—
   3    The face, look, appearance (poet.): vultus capit illa priores, Ov. M. 1, 738: inque nitentem Inachidos vultus mutaverat ille juvencam, id. ib. 1, 611.—Of things: unus erat toto naturae vultus in orbe, Ov. M. 1, 6: salis placidi, Verg. A. 5, 848.