servitus
ἰχθύς ἐκ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὄζειν ἄρχεται → the fish stinks from the head, a fish rots from the head down, the fish rots from the head down, fish begin to stink at the head, the fish stinks first at the head, corruption starts at the top, the rot starts at the top
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
servĭtūs: ūtis (
I gen. plur. servitutium, Dig. 8, 2, 32 fin.; 8, 3, 1 fin.; and acc. to Ritschl also Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 14), f. id., the condition of a servus; slavery, serfdom, service, servitude (freq. and class.).
I Lit.: servitus est constitutio juris gentium, quā quis dominio alieno contra naturam subicitur, Dig. 1, 5, 4; Just. Inst. 1, 3, 2: servitutem servire, Plaut. Capt. 2, 3, 31 (v. this freq. occurring phrase under servio, I. δ): quibus nunc aerumna mea libertatem paro, Quibus servitutem mea miseria deprecor? Enn. ap. Gell. 6, 16, 9 (Trag. v. 173 Vahl.): domi fuistis liberi: Nunc servitus si evenit, etc., Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 4: qui hodie fuerim liber, eum nunc potivit pater servitutis, id. Am. 1, 1, 24 Fleck.: quis hoc imperium, quis hanc servitutem ferre potest? Cato ap. Gell. 10, 3, 17: ipsam (mulierem) in servitutem adjudicare, Cic. Div. in Caecil. 17, 56: ista corruptela servi si impunita fuerit ... fit in dominatu servitus, in servitute dominatus, id. Deiot. 11, 30: mors servituti anteponenda, id. Off. 1, 23, 81: servitutem perpessi, id. Phil. 8, 11, 32: aliae nationes servitutem pati possunt, populi Romani est propria libertas, id. ib. 6, 7, 19: servitutem pati, id. ib. 6, 7, 19: similitudo servitutis id. Rep. 1, 27, 43: hunc nimis liberum populum libertas ipsā servitute afficit, etc... Nimia illa libertas in nimiam servitutem cadit, id. ib. 1, 44, 68: socios nostros in servitutem abduxerunt, id. Pis. 34, 84: servitutis jugum, id. Rep. 2, 25, 47: Themistocles cum servitute Graeciam liberasset, id. Lael. 12, 42: conjuges in servitutem abstrahi, Caes. B. G. 7, 14; addicere aliquem in servitutem, Liv. 3, 56; Caes. B. G. 7, 77: liberum populum servitute adficere, Cic. Rep. 1, 44, 68: asserere aliquem in servitutem, Liv. 3, 44, 5; 34, 18, 2; Suet. Tib. 2.—*
(b) As a verbal noun with dat.: opulento homini hoc servitus dura est, this serving or being servant of a rich man, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 12.—
II Transf.
A In gen. (acc to servio, II.), servitude, subjection: numquam salvis suis exuitur servitus muliebris; et ipsae libertatem, quam viduitas et orbitas facit, detestantur, Liv. 34, 7 Drak.: silvestres gallinae in servitute non foetant, in confinement, Col. 8, 12; so id. 8, 15, 7: hujus tanti officii servitutem astringebam testimonio sempiterno, Cic. Planc. 30, 74: est enim in illis ipsa merces auctoramentum servitutis, id. Off. 1, 42, 150; cf.: ut se homines ad servitutem juris astringerent, Quint. 2, 16, 9; 7, 3, 16.—
B The government, rule, dominion of a master: tibi Apud me justa et clemens servitus, Ter. And. 1, 1, 9.—
C (Acc. to servio, II. B.) Jurid. t. t., of buildings, lands, etc., a liability resting upon them, an easement, servitude: servitutes praediorum rusticorum sunt hae: iter, actus, via, aquaeductus, Dig. 8, 3, 1: jura praediorum urbanorum, quae servitutes vocantur, Gai. Inst. 2, 14: servitute fundo illi imposita, Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 2, § 3: specus servitutis putat aliquid habituros, id. Att. 15, 26, 4.—
D Concr. (for the class. servitium), slaves, servants (collect.); poet. of lovers: adde quod pubes tibi crescit omnis, Servitus crescit nova (= catervae amatorum semper novorum). Hor. C. 2, 8, 18; cf. Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 14 Ritschl.
