[Acerbus]; Amarus. Acerbus (from κάρφω) means a biting bitterness, in opp. to mitis, like ὀξύς; amarus, a nauseous bitterness, in opp. to dulcis, like πικρός. Quintil. xi. 3. 169. Cic. Rep. iii. 8. Plin. H. N. xxvii. 9. Sen. Ir. i. 4. (vi. 4.)
[Acervus]; Congeries; Strues; Cumulus. 1. Acervus and congeries mean ‘heaps’ of homogeneous things collected and piled up in layers; acervus [from ἀγείρω], like σωρός, with arrangement, and mostly in a conical shape, but congeries, negligently, and altogether without regard to shape; strues denotes that something new is produced, and a determinate form given, serving a particular purpose; like θημών. Curt. viii. 7. 11. Passim acervos struesque accendebant; meaning by acervos ‘heaps’ or ‘piles,’ by strues ‘stacks’ of wood. 2. Cumulus (from ἀκμή) means strictly, not the heap itself, but the top, by which the heap is completed as a whole, like the key-stone, by which any thing first reaches its proper and complete height, almost like κορυφή; and it has this meaning particularly in cumulare, which is like κορυφοῦν. Compare Liv. xxii. 59. Superstantes cumulis cæsorum corporum, with Cannenses campos acervi Romanorum corporum tegunt: and xxiii. 5. Molibus ex humanorum corporum strue faciendis. (ii. 118.)
[Achivi]; Achæi; Achaius; Achaicus; Troius; Troicus. 1. Achivi are the Homeric Greeks, or Ἀχαῖοι; Achæi are either the inhabitants of Achaia, or, in the poets, the Greeks at large, as contemporaries of the Romans. Cic. Divin. i. 16. Cum Achivi cœpissent inter se strepere. Compare this with Cæcil. 20. Quod cum sibi Achæi patronum adoptarant. 2. Achaius is the adj. of Achivus. Hor. Od. i. 15. 37. Virg. Æn. ii. 462; but Achaicus is the adj. of Achæus. Cic. Att. i. 13. 3. Troius is the more select term, as adj. of the old heroic and Homeric Troja; Troicus, the usual adj. of the country Troas, without reference to the Trojan war. (v. 306.)
[Acies]; Acumen; Cacumen; Mucro; Cuspis. 1. Acies is the sharpness of a line adapted for cutting; acumen, of a tip or point adapted for sticking. Figuratively, the acies mentis is shown in the keen sifting of what is confused, in clear perception; the acumen mentis is the fathoming of that which is deeply hidden, in subtle discovery. 2. Acumen and cacumen mean a natural head or top; acumen, of a cone, beak, and so forth; cacumen, particularly that of a mountain: mucro and cuspis mean an artificial head, for the purpose of piercing and wounding; mucro, that of a sword, dagger, and so forth; cuspis, that of a spear, arrow, etc., like αἰχμή. (vi. 5.)
Acies, see [Pugna].
Acta, see [Ripa].
[Actor]; Comœdus; Ludio; Histrio. The generic term actor, and the specific terms comœdus and tragœdus, denote the player, as a respectable artist; but ludio, ludius, the comedian, the player, who makes acting his trade, with the accessory notion of commonness; lastly, histrio, sometimes the actor, sometimes the comedian, but mostly with the accessory notion of buffoonery and boasting. Cic. Sext. 54. Ipse ille maxime ludius, non solum spectator, sed actor et acroama. Rosc. Com. 10. Nemo ex pessimo histrione bonum comœdum fieri posse existimaret. Ep. ad Qu. Fr. i. a. E. Hortor ut tanquam poetæ boni et actores industrii solent, in extrema parte diligentissimus sis. Suet. Aug. 74. (v. 334.)
Acumen, see [Acies].
Adamare, see [Amare].
[Adesse]; Interesse; Præsentem esse. 1. Adesse means to be near a person or thing; but interesse, to assist in a transaction, to take a part in it. Cic. Verr. i. 40. Crimina ea, quæ notiora sunt his qui adsunt, quam nobis . . . . De illo nihil dixit, in quo interfuit. 2. Adesse denotes generally the presence in a circle to which we belong; præsentem esse, absolute, audible and visible presence. When an expected guest is within our walls, adest; he who is in the same room with us, præsens est. (v. 337.)