cornix
κινδυνεύει μὲν γὰρ ἡμῶν οὐδέτερος οὐδὲν καλὸν κἀγαθὸν εἰδέναι, ἀλλ᾽ οὗτος μὲν οἴεταί τι εἰδέναι οὐκ εἰδώς, ἐγὼ δέ, ὥσπερ οὖν οὐκ οἶδα, οὐδὲ οἴομαι· ἔοικα γοῦν τούτου γε σμικρῷ τινι αὐτῷ τούτῳ σοφώτερος εἶναι, ὅτι ἃ μὴ οἶδα οὐδὲ οἴομαι εἰδέναι. → for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing; whereas I, as I do not know anything, so I do not fancy I do. In this trifling particular, then, I appear to be wiser than he, because I do not fancy I know what I do not know.
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
cornix: īcis, f. kindred with corvus and κορώνη,
I a crow, Lucr. 5, 1083: rauca, id. 6, 753: garrula, Ov. M. 2, 548: loquax, id. F. 2, 89; Plin. 10, 12, 14, § 30 al.; renowned as being long lived, Lucr. 5, 1083; Cic. Tusc. 3, 28, 69; Hor. C. 3, 17, 13; Ov. M. 7, 274; Plin. 7, 48, 49, § 153 et saep.; its appearance on the left side was considered as a favorable omen, Plaut. As. 2, 1, 12; Cic. Div. 1, 39, 85; Verg. E. 9, 15; Phaedr. 3, 18, 12; cf. Suet. Dom. 23; and its cries as a sign of rain, Verg. G. 1, 388; Hor. C. 3, 17, 13.—Its eyes were used as a charm, Prop. 4 (5), 5, 16 Paley ad loc.—From its custom of attacking its prey first in the eyes is taken the proverb: cornicum oculos configere, to delude or deceive the most wary (Anglice, to catch a weasel asleep), Cic. Mur. 11, 25 (cited ap. Quint. 8, 3, 22); and ellipt.: cornici oculum, id. Fl. 20, 46 (cf. Schol. Bobiens. V. 2, p. 242 Orell.).
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
cornīx,¹² īcis, f. corneille [oiseau] : Cic. Tusc. 3, 69 ; cornicum oculos configere [prov.] Cic. Mur. 25, crever les yeux des corneilles = tromper les plus clairvoyants ; [abrév.] «cornici oculum», ut dicitur Cic. Fl. 46 = il trompa plus habile que lui.
