Astrum, see [Sidus].
[Astutus]; Callidus; Vafer; Versutus. Astutus or in old Latin astus (from ἀκή, acuere), and callidus, denote cunning, more in an intellectual sense, as a mark of cleverness; astutus, indeed, acuteness in the invention and execution of a secret project, synonymous with solers; but callidus (from κάλλος), sharp-sightedness in judging of a complicated question of conduct, or worldly wisdom, as the consequence of a knowledge of mankind, and of intercourse with the world, synonymous with rerum peritus, as judicious, and, in its degenerate signification, crafty, like κερδαλέος; on the other hand, vafer and versutus denote cunning in a moral sense, as a mark of dishonesty, and, indeed, vafer (ὑφή), adroitness in introducing tricks, particularly in judicial affairs, as the tricks of a lawyer, like πανοῦργος; versutus (ἀρτυτός), versatility in dissimulation, and in the art of getting out of a scrape by some means or other; in opp. to simplex, Cic. Fin. iv. 25, like στροφαῖος. Plin. Ep. vii. 6. Juvenis ingeniosus, sed parum callidus. Cic. Brut. 48. Callidus, et in capiendo adversario versutus. (iii. 220.)
[Ater]; Niger; Pullus. 1. Ater (αἰθός) denotes black, as a negation of color, in opp. to albus; whereas niger (πνιγόεις) denotes black, as being itself a color, and indeed the darkest, in opp. to candidus. The atrum makes only a dismal and dark impression; but the nigrum, a positive, and imposing and beautiful impression, as Hor. Carm. i. 32, 11. Lycum nigris oculis, nigroque crine decorum. Tac. G. 43. Nigra scuta, tincta corpora; atras ad prœlia noctes legunt. (iii. 194.) 2. Ater and niger denote a deep dark black; whereas pullus only swarthy, with reference to the affinity of the dark color to dirt. (iii. 207.)
Atque, see [Et].
[Atrox]; Trux; Truculentus; Dirus; Sævus; Torvus. 1. Atrox, trux, and truculentus, (from τρηχύς, ταράξαι), denote that which has an exterior exciting fear; that which makes an impression of terror on the fancy, and eye, and ear; atrox, indeed, as a property of things, but trux and truculentus as properties of persons; whereas dirus and sævus mean that which is really an object of fear, and threatens danger; dirus, indeed (from δέος), according to its own nature, as a property of things, means dreadful, δεινός; but sævus (from αἶ, heu!) according to the character of the person, as a property of living beings, means blood-thirsty, cruel, αἰνός. Plin. Pan. 53. Atrocissima effigies sævissimi domini. Mela ii. 7. Ionium pelagus . . . atrox, sævum; that is, looking dangerous, and often enough also bringing misfortune. 2. Trux denotes dreadfulness of look, of the voice, and so forth, in the tragic or heroic sense, as a mark of a wild disposition or of a cruel purpose; but truculentus, in the ordinary and comic sense, as a mark of ill-humor or trivial passion; the slave in Plautus is truculentus; the wrathful Achilles is trux. Sometimes, however, truculentior and truculentissimus serve as the comparative and superlative of trux. 3. Trux and truculentus vultus is a terrific, angry look, like τραχύς; torvus, merely a stern, sharp, and wild look, as τορόν, or ταυρηδὸν βλέπειν. Plin. H. N. xi. 54. Contuitu quoque multiformes; truces, torvi, flagrantes. Quintil. vi. 1. 43. (i. 40.)
[Attonitus]; Stupens. Attonitus, thunderstruck, denotes a momentary, stupens (ταφεῖν) a petrified, a lasting condition. Curt. viii. 2, 3. Attoniti, et stupentibus similes. Flor. ii. 12. (vi. 31.)
[Audere]; Conari; Moliri. Audere denotes an enterprise with reference to its danger, and the courage of him who undertakes it, whereas conari (from incohare), with reference to the importance of the enterprise, and the energy of him who undertakes it; lastly, moliri, with reference to the difficulty of the enterprise, and the exertion required of him who undertakes it. (iii. 295.)
Audentia, Audacia, see [Fides].
[Audire]; Auscultare. Audire (from ausis, auris, οὖας) means to hear, ἀκούειν, as a mere passive sensation, like olfacere; on the other hand, auscultare (from auricula), to hearken, ἀκροᾶσθαι, that is, to wish to hear, and to hear attentively, whether secretly or openly, by an act of the will, like odorari. Ter. And. iv. 5, 45. Æsch. Pater, obsecro, ausculta. Mic. Æschine, audivi omnia. Cato ap. Gell. i. 15. Pacuv. ap. Cic. Div. i. 57. (iii. 293.)
Auferre, see [Demere].