[1254.] In Sallust, Livy, and Tacitus, genitives of abstracts are used with the adverbs eō, quō, and hūc: as, eō miseriārum, S. I. 14, 3, to that pitch of distress. Ones with ut: ut quisque audentiae habuisset, adcurrerent, Ta. 15, 53, they should run up, with a speed commensurate in every case to their daring.
[1255.] (4.) The genitive is used to define that of which a thing consists: as,
magna multitūdō perditōrum hominum, 3, 17, 4, a perfect swarm of desperadoes. innumerābile pondus aurī, Sest. 93, a weight of gold too great to count. mīlle numerō nāvium clāssem, V. 1, 48, an armada a thousand sail strong.
[1256.] The genitive of an explicit word containing the leading idea is sometimes used to define a more general word; as,
praedae pecudum hominumque, L. 24, 20, 5, booty consisting of cattle and human beings. pignora coniugum ac līberōrum, L. 2, 1, 5, pledges in the shape of wives and children. cōnfīsus mūnītiōne fossae, Caes. C. 1, 42, 3, relying on the defensive works in the shape of a moat. Rarely in poetry and late prose, the proper name of a place, with urbs, prōmunturium, &c.: as, urbem Patavī, V., 1, 247, the city of Patavium ([1045]). Particularly with the words vōx, nōmen, genus, and especially causa: as, haec vōx voluptātis, Fin. 2, 6, this word ‘pleasure.’ nōmen amīcitiae, Fin. 2, 78, the name ‘friendship.’ Compare nōmen frāternum, 1, 36, 5, the name of brothers ([1233]). haec īgnōminiae causa, Clu. 120, this reason, namely the censor’s stigma. parvulae causae vel falsae suspīciōnis vel terrōris repentīnī, Caes. C. 3, 72, 4, insignificant causes, as for instance ungrounded suspicion or a panic. propter eam causam sceleris istīus, V. 4, 113, for this reason, namely the crime of the defendant.
[1257.] The genitive of definition is very common with causā, less common with grātiā, to define what the motive or cause is: as,
amīcitiae causā, 1, 39, 2, from motives of friendship. Compare vestrā magis hoc causā volēbam, quam meā, DO. 1, 164, I wished this more for your sake than for my own ([1234]). honestātis amplitūdinisque grātiā, RA. 15, in compliment to their respectability and high social standing. So also sometimes with nōmine, and in old or official Latin, with ergō.
[1258.] Conversely, the genitive of a generic word denoting a person is sometimes added to a leading word defining the kind of a person: as, frūstum puerī, Pl. Per. 849, thou bit of a boy. mōnstrum hominis, T. Eu. 696, thou fiend in human shape. quaedam pestēs hominum, Fam. 5, 8, 2, some regular plagues in the shape of men.