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taeter (less correctly tēter ), tra, trum, adj. perh. from taedet.
I. Physically, offensive, foul, noisome, shocking, hideous, loathsome (class.; syn.: foedus, putidus).
A. Absol.: “taetra et immanis belua,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 20, 45: “odor ex multitudine cadaverum,” Caes. B. C. 3, 49: “cadavera,” Lucr. 2, 415: “aut foedā specie taetri turpesque videntur,” id. 2, 421: “sapor,” id. 6, 22: “absinthia,” id. 1, 936: “ulcera,” id. 5, 995; 5, 1126; 4, 172; “6, 976: cruor,” Verg. A. 10, 727: “spiritus,” Hor. C. 3, 11, 19; Luc. 1, 618: “loca taetra, inculta, foeda atque formidolosa,” Sall. C. 52, 13; cf.: “taetris tenebris et caligine,” Cic. Agr 2, 17, 44: “alter, o dii boni, quam taeter mcedebat, quam truculentus, quam terribilis aspectu!” id. Sest. 8, 19; cf.: “vultus naturā horridus ac taeter,” Suet. Calig. 50; Juv. 10, 191: “hanc tam taetram, tam horribilem tamque infestam rei publicae pestem toties jam effugimus,” Cic. Cat. 1, 5, 11.— Comp.: “aliis aliud retro quoque taetrius esset Naribus, etc.,” Lucr. 2, 510.— Sup.: taeterrima hiems, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 15, 1.—
B. With abl.: “foedā specie taetri,” Lucr. 2, 421; cf.: “mulier taeterrima vultu,” Juv. 6, 418.—As subst.: taetrum , i, n., offensiveness: “quae profluentia necessario taetri essent aliquid habitura,” Cic. N. D. 2, 56, 141.—
II. Mentally or morally.
A. In gen.
1. Of persons, horrid, hideous, repulsive, shameful, disgraceful, abominable, etc. (syn.: “immanis, turpis): taeter et ferus homo,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 13, 2.—Sup.: “quid ais tu, hominum omnium taeterrume?” Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 65: “quamquam es omni diritate atque immanitate taeterrimus,” Cic. Vatin. 3, 9: “quis taetrior hostis huic civitati,” id. Cael. 6, 13: “qui in eum fuerat taeterrimus,” id. Tusc. 1, 40, 96.—
2. Of things: postquam discordia taetra Belli ferratos postes portasque refregit, Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 7, 622 (Ann. v. 270 Vahl.): “libido,” Hor. S. 1, 2, 33: “facinus,” Cic. Off. 3, 29, 95: “prodigia,” Liv. 22, 9.—Comp.: “quibus (sc. cupiditatibus) nihil taetrius nec foedius excogitari potest,” Cic. Off. 3, 8, 36: “nullum vitium taetrius est, quam avaritia,” id. ib. 2, 22, 77. —Sup.: “taeterrimum bellum,” Cic. Fam. 10, 14, 2.—
B. Esp., neutr. as adv., horridly, horribly, etc.: “taetrum flagrat ... Horror conscius,” Prud. Cath. 4, 22.—Hence, adv.: taetrē , foully, shockingly, hideously, Cato ap. Charis. p. 196 P.; Cic. Div. 1, 9.—Sup., Cic. Att. 7, 12, 2.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (30 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (30):
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 10.14.2
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 8.15.1
    • Cicero, Letters to Atticus, 7.12.2
    • Cicero, Letters to his brother Quintus, 2.13.2
    • Cicero, Against Catiline, 1.5.11
    • Cicero, Against Vatinius, 3.9
    • Cicero, For Marcus Caelius, 6.13
    • Cicero, For Sestius, 8.19
    • Plautus, Mostellaria, 3.1
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 10.727
    • Horace, Satires, 1.2.33
    • Caesar, Civil War, 3.49
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 1.936
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.510
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.415
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.421
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 4.172
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 5.1126
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 5.995
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 6.22
    • Suetonius, Caligula, 50
    • Lucan, Civil War, 1.618
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 22, 9
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 1.9
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.56
    • Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes, 1.40
    • Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes, 4.20
    • Cicero, De Officiis, 3.29
    • Cicero, De Officiis, 3.8
    • Sallust, Catilinae Coniuratio, 52
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