I. Prop., a laboring at, labor, care, cultivation, culture (rare): “quod est tam asperum saxetum, in quo agricolarum cultus non elaboret?” Cic. Agr. 2, 25, 66: “agricolae,” id. Leg. 1, 1, 1: “agrorum,” Liv. 4, 12, 7; Quint. prooem. § 26; cf. id. 8, 3, 75: “(oves) neque sustentari neque ullum fructum edere ex se sine cultu hominum et curatione possent,” Cic. N. D. 2, 63, 158; cf.: “cultus et curatio corporis,” id. ib. 1, 34, 94: “omnis cultus fructusque Cereris in iis locis interisse,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 51, § 114.—
II. Trop.
A. In gen. (also rare), training, education, culture: “malo cultu corruptus,” Cic. Part. Or. 26, 91: “animi,” mental discipline, id. Fin. 5, 19, 54; cf.: “recti cultus pectora roborant,” Hor. C. 4, 4, 34; id. Ep. 2, 2, 123: “litterarum,” Just. 9, 8, 18; Gell. 14, 6, 1: “quos (barbaros reges) nulla eruditio, nullus litterarum cultus imbuerat,” Sen. Ira, 3, 17, 1: “quid tam dignum cultu atque labore ducamus (sc. quam vocem)?” Quint. 2, 16, 17.—
B. In partic.
1. An honoring, reverence, adoration, veneration: “philosophia nos primum ad deorum cultum erudivit,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 26, 64; id. Inv. 2, 53, 161; Ov. M. 2, 425: “exquisitus religionis cultus,” Val. Max. 5, 2, 1; 4, 4, 4.— In plur.: “justis ac piis,” Lact. 4, 3: “de adventu regis et cultu sui,” Tac. A. 2, 58.— Far more freq. and class. in prose and poetry,
2. Care directed to the refinement of life (opp. to a state of nature), i. e. arrangements for living, style, manner of life, culture, cultivation, elegance, polish, civilization, refinement, etc.: “homines a ferā agrestique vitā ad humanum cultum civilemque deducere,” Cic. de Or. 1, 8, 33; cf.: eadem mediocritas ad omnem usum cultumque vitae transferenda est. id. Off. 1, 39, 140: (Belgae) a cultu atque humanitate provinciae longissime absunt, Caes. B. G. 1, 1; cf. id. ib. 1, 31; Verg. A. 5, 730; and in plur.: “cultusque artesque virorum,” Ov. M. 7, 58: “liberalis,” Liv. 45, 28, 11: “humilis,” id. 1, 39, 3: “agrestis et rusticus,” id. 7, 4, 6; cf. “feri,” Hor. C. 1, 10, 2: “multas (artes) ad animorum corporumque cultum ... invexit,” Liv. 39, 8, 3: “regio victu atque cultu aetatem agere,” Sall. C. 37, 6; “so with victus,” Cic. Fam. 9, 3, 1; Caes. B. G. 6, 24; Nep. Alcib. 11, 4 al.; cf. of improvement, cultivation of mind: “animi cultus ille erat ei quasi quidam humanitatis cibus,” Cic. Fin. 5, 19, 54: “non mores patrios solum, sed etiam cultum vestitumque mutavit,” Nep. Paus. 3, 1. —In a bad sense, luxury, voluptuousness, wantonness: “libido stupri, ganeae ceterique cultūs non minor incesserat,” sensual indulgences, Sall. C. 13, 3; cf.: “cultus ac desidia imperatoris,” Liv. 29, 21, 13.—
b. Transf., of ornaments of style: “in verbis effusiorem, ut ipsi vocant, cultum adfectaverunt,” Quint. 3, 8, 58; so id. 2, 5, 23; 10, 1, 124 al.—
3. Style of dress, external appearance, clothing, dress, garb, apparel, attire; esp. ornament, decoration, splendid dress, splendor (so most freq.): “aequato omnium cultu,” Liv. 34, 4, 12: “pastoralis,” Vell. 1, 2: “quam maxime miserabilis,” Sall. J. 33, 1; Tert. Hab. Mul. 3: “regius,” Nep. Dat. 3, 1: “militaris,” Liv. 29, 19, 11: “incinctus Gabino cultu,” id. 10, 7, 3: “justo mundior,” id. 8, 15, 7: “amoenior,” id. 4, 44, 11 et saep.; Vell. 2, 40; Quint. 8, prooem. § 20; Suet. Caes. 44 et saep.; Hor. C. 1, 8, 16; 4, 9, 15; Ov. M. 3, 609 et saep.
