I.gen. sing. exerciti, Naev. ap. Charis. p. 103 P.; Att. Trag. Fragm. 150, 311 (Rib. p. 155, 177); Varr. ap. Non. 485, 16 sq. EXERCITVIS, acc. to Non. ib. 11, without example. EXERCITVVS, Inscr. Orell. 4922.—Dat.: “exercitu,” Caes. B. C. 3, 96; Liv. 9, 5; 9, 41; 22, 1 al.), m. exerceo. *
I. Lit., exercise: “pro exercitu gymnastico et palaestrico, etc.,” Plaut. Rud. 2, 1, 7.—
B. Transf., concr., in milit. lang., an exercised, disciplined body of men, an army (syn.: “agmen, acies, phalanx, caterva, manus, legiones): exercitum non unam cohortem neque unam alam dicimus, sed numeros multos militum. Nam exercitui praeesse dicimus eum, qui legionem vel legiones administrat,” Dig. 3, 2, 2: horrescit telis exercitus asper utrimque, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 4 (Ann. v. 385, ed. Vahl.); Enn. Ann. 14, 13: “exercitum comparare,” Cic. Phil. 4, 3, 6: “abire in exercitum,” Plaut. Am. prol. 102; 125: “venire ab exercitu,” id. ib. 140: “adesse ad exercitum,” id. ib. 1, 3, 6: “e castris educere exercitum,” id. ib. 1, 1, 61 (cf.: “ex oppido legiones educere,” id. ib. v. 63); cf.: “exercitum conscribere, comparare,” id. ib. 5, 13, 36: “parare,” Sall. C. 29, 3: “scribere,” Liv. 2, 43, 5: “conficere,” Cic. Phil. 5, 16, 43; id. de Imp. Pomp. 21, 61: “facere,” id. Phil. 5, 8, 23: “conflare,” id. ib. 4, 6, 15: “contrahere,” Caes. B. G. 1, 34, 3: “cogere,” id. ib. 3, 17, 2; Sall. J. 10, 4: “ducere,” Cic. Mur. 9, 20: “ductare,” Sall. C. 11, 5; 17, 7: “transducere,” Caes. B. G. 1, 13, 1 et saep.—As a land army, in opposition to a naval army or fleet: “eodem tempore et exercitus ostendebatur et classis intrabat portum,” Liv. 26, 42, 2. As infantry, in opposition to cavalry: “(Caesar) exercitum equitatumque castris continuit,” Caes. B. G. 2, 11, 2; 7, 61, 2; 1, 48, 4; Liv. 30, 36, 8; 40, 52, 6; cf. Drak. id. 28, 1, 5.—
2. Transf.
(α).
The assembly of the people in the Centuria Comitiata, as being a military organization, Varr. L. L. 6, 9, § 88; cf. Gell. 15, 27 fin.; Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 50; 52.—
(β).
Poet., in gen., a multitude, host, swarm, flock: “corvorum,” Verg. G. 1, 382; id. A. 5, 824; Sil. 11, 413.—