latrunculus
κρατίστην εἶναι δημοκρατίαν τὴν μήτε πλουσίους ἄγαν μήτε πένητας ἔχουσαν πολίτας → the best democracy is that in which the citizens are neither very rich nor very poor (Thales/Plutarch)
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
lā̆truncŭlus: i, m.
dim. 2. latro.
I A highwayman, robber, freebooter, brigand: mastrucati latrunculi, Cic. Prov. Cons. 7, 15: hostes sunt, quibus bellum publice populus Romanus decrevit, vel ipsi populo Romano, ceteri latrunculi vel praedones appellantur, Dig. 49, 15, 24 (cf. the passage from Dig. 50, 16, 118, where the word latrones is used; v. 2. latro, II.): a latrunculis vel hostibus, ib. 39, 5, 34.—Of the usurper of a throne, Vop. Firm. 2, 1.—
II A man, pawn, in draughts or chess. latrunculis ludimus, Sen. Ep. 106, 11; Varr. L. L. 10, § 22 Müll.; Plin. 8, 54, 80, § 215.
