sextans
ἐξ ὀνύχων λέοντα τεκμαίρεσθαι → judge by the claws, judge by a slight but characteristic mark, small traits give the clue to the character of a person, deduce something from a small indication, identify a lion from its claws
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
sextans: antis, m. sex.
I A sixth part of an as (v. as): sextans ab eo quod sexta pars assis, ut quadrans quod quarta et triens quod tertia pars, Varr. L. L. 5, § 171 Müll.: heredes in sextante, Cic. Fam. 13, 29, 4: ex sextante heres institutus, Dig. 44, 2, 30; Cod. Th. 9, 42, 8 pr.—
B In partic.
1 As a coin: extulit eum plebs sextantibus collatis in capita, Liv. 2, 33 fin.; Plin. 33, 10, 48, § 138; hence, servus sextantis, i. e. of very trifling value, worthless, Laber. ap. Gell. 16, 9, 4.—
2 In weighing, Plin. 26, 11, 74, § 121; Ov. Med. Fac. 65; Mart. 8, 71, 9; (with pondo) Scrib. Larg. 4; 42 al.—
3 As a measure of land, the sixth part of a juger, Varr. R. R. 1, 10, 2; Col. 5, 1, 10.—
4 As a liquid measure, the sixth part of a sextarius, or two cyathi, Col. 12, 23, 1; Mart. 5, 64, 1; Suet. Aug. 77.—
5 As a lineal measure, Plin. 13, 15, 29, § 94.—
II Among mathematicians, the sixth part of the number six, as of the numerus perfectus (v. as), i. e. unity, one, Vitr. 3, 1, 6.
