expolitio
From LSJ
ἡ κέρκος τῇ ἀλώπεκι μαρτυρεῖ → you can tell a fox by its tail, small traits give the clue to the character of a person
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
expŏlītĭo: ōnis, f. expolio,
I a smoothing off, rubbing up, polishing, finishing.
I Lit.: parietum, pavimentorum, a plastering, Vitr. 6 fin.; 7 praef. fin.: urbana, i. e. of a house in the city, Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 2, § 6: miniacea, Vitr. 7, 9.—
II Trop., of speech, an adorning, embellishing.
A In gen.: in verbis inest quasi materia quaedam: in numero autem expolitio, Cic. Or. 55, 185; id. de Or. 1, 12, 50; id. Inv. 1, 40, 74.—
B In partic., as a fig. of speech, Auct. Her. 4, 42, 54 sq.
