argutiae: Difference between revisions

|lshtext=<b>argūtĭae</b>: ārum (the sing. argutia, ae, is [[rare]] and [[only]] [[among]] [[later]] writers; cf. [[Charis]]. p. 20, and Phocae Ars, p. 1708 P.), f. [[argutus]].<br /><b>I</b> That [[which]] is [[clear]] to the senses, [[vigor]] of [[expression]], [[liveliness]], [[animation]]; of works of [[art]]: [[Parrhasius]] [[primus]] symmetriam picturae dedit, [[primus]] argutias vultūs, elegantiam capilli, etc., Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 37: [[argutiae]] operum, id. 34, 18, 19, § 65.—Of the [[quick]] [[motion]] of the fingers (cf. [[argutus]]): nulla [[mollitia]] cervicum, nullae [[argutiae]] digitorum, Cic. Or. 18, 59.—Of the [[chattering]] notes of the [[nightingale]], Plin. 10, 29, 43, § 85.—Of [[chattering]] [[discourse]], Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 19; id. Most. 1, 1, 2.—<br /><b>II</b> Transf. to [[mental]] qualities.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> Brightness, [[acuteness]], [[wit]], [[genius]]: hujus (C. Titii) orationes [[tantum]] argutiarum, [[tantum]] urbanitatis habent, ut [[paene]] Attico [[stilo]] scriptae esse videantur. Easdem argutias in tragoedias transtulit, Cic. Brut. 45, 167: [[Demosthenes]] [[nihil]] Lysiae subtilitate cedit, [[nihil]] argutiis et acumine Hyperidi, id. Or. 31, 110. —<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> Slyness, [[subtlety]], [[cunning]], [[shrewdness]] in [[speech]] or [[action]]: sed [[nihil]] est [[quod]] [[illi]] ([[Graeci]]) non persequantur suis argutiis, Cic. Lael. 13, 45: cujus [[loquacitas]] habet aliquid argutiarum, id. Leg. 1, 2, 7.—In this signif. also in the sing.: importuna [[atque]] [[audax]] argutia, Gell. 3, 1, 6: [[levis]] et [[quasi]] [[dicax]] argutia, id. 12, 2 (cf. [[argutiola]]); Pall. Insit. prooem. 1; so App. M. 1, 1.