praetextus
κρεῖττον εἶναι φιλοσόφως ἀποθανεῖν ἢ ἀφιλοσόφως ζῆν → that it is better to die in manner befitting a philosopher than to live unphilosophically
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
praetextus: a, um, Part. and P. a., from praetexo.
praetextus: ūs (but found only in
I abl. sing.; cf. praetextum, s. v. praetexo fin.), m. praetexo.
I Outward appearance, show, ornament, display, splendor, consequence (post-Aug.): majore praetextu, Tac. H. 1, 19: praetextu senatūs, id. ib. 1, 76: plurimorum et maximorum operum praetextu, Val. Max. 4, 4, 1; Manil. 3, 129. —
II A pretence, pretext, color (not anteAug.): decretum sub leni praetextu verborum factum est, Liv. 36, 6, 5: sub praetextu, Petr. 97: hoc praetextu, under this pretence, Just. 29, 3: latrocinii, Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 10, 8.
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
(1) prætextus,¹² a, um, part. p. de prætexo || adjt, vêtu de la robe prétexte : Prop. 4, 1, 11.
(2) prætextŭs,¹⁵ ūs, m.,
1 action de mettre devant [fig.], prétexte ; sub prætextu Petr. 97, 9, sous couleur, cf. Liv. 36, 6, 5
2 éclat, représentation : Tac. *H. 1, 13 ; Val. Max. 4, 4, 1, v. prætextum.
