crux

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

crux: ŭcis, f. (m., Enn. ap. Non. p. 195, 13; Gracch. ap. Fest. s. v. masculino, p. 150, 24, and 151, 12 Müll.) [perh. kindred with circus.
I Lit.
   A In gen., a tree, frame, or other wooden instruments of execution, on which criminals were impaled or hanged, Sen. Prov. 3, 10; Cic. Rab. Perd. 3, 10 sqq.—
   B In partic., a cross, Ter. And. 3, 5, 15; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 7; 2, 1, 4, § 9; id. Pis. 18, 42; id. Fin. 5, 30, 92; Quint. 4, 2, 17; Tac. A. 15, 44; Hor. S. 1, 3, 82; 2, 7, 47; id. Ep. 1, 16, 48 et saep.: dignus fuit qui malo cruce periret, Gracch. ap. Fest. l. l.: pendula, the pole of a carriage, Stat. S. 4, 3, 28. —
II Transf.
   A As a term of reproach, a gallows bird, a hempen rascal, Plaut. Pers. 5, 2, 17.—
   B Transf., torture, trouble, misery, destruction, etc. (so most freq. in Plaut. and Ter., and in the former esp. freq. in connection with mala): aliqua mala crux, tormentor (of a prostitute), Plaut. Aul. 3, 5, 48; cf.: illae cruces, Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 92: quae te mala crux agitat? what tormentor troubles you? Plaut. Bacch. 4, 2, 2: abstraxit hominem in maximam malam crucem, id. Men. prol. 66: quaerere in malo crucem, Ter. Phorm. 3, 3, 11.—Prov.: summum jus antiqui summam putabant crucem, Col. 1, 7, 2.—Hence, in colloq. lang.: I (abi, etc.) in malam crucem! go to the devil! go and be hanged! Plaut. Cas. 3, 5, 17; id. Ps. 3, 2, 57; 4, 7, 86 al.; Ter. Phorm. 2, 3, 21; cf.: Cy. Num quid vis? Me. Ut eas maximam in malam crucem, Plaut. Men. 2, 2, 53; id. Capt. 3, 1, 9.—Without mala: I in crucem, Plaut. As. 5, 2, 91.—And ellipt.: in malam crucem! Plaut. Cas. 5, 4, 8; id. Ps. 5, 2, 5. —Hence, Ital. croce; Fr. croix.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

crux,⁹ ŭcis, f.,
1 croix, gibet : figere crucem ad supplicium... Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 6, dresser une croix pour le supplice... ; tollere in crucem aliquem Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 7, faire mettre en croix qqn || timon d’un char : Stat. S. 4, 3, 28
2 [fig.] a) gibier de potence : Pl. Pers. 795 ; b) peste [en parl. d’une courtisane] : Ter. Eun. 383 ; c) peine, tourment, fléau : crucem in malo quærere Ter. Phorm. 544, d’un petit mal faire un grand, chercher malheur sur malheur (se jeter d’un mal dans un pire); summum jus summa crux Col. Rust. 1, 7, 2, l’extrême justice devient cruauté ; i in crucem Pl. As. 940 ; abi in malam crucem Pl. Pœn. 271, va au diable, va te faire pendre. m. Gracch. d. P. Fest. 150 ; 151 ; Enn. d. Non. 195, 10 ; Prisc. Gramm. 5, 42 || gén. pl. crucum Plin. d. Char. 141, 17 ; Tert. Apol. 16 ; Nat. 1, 12.