I. Abstr., a diligent meditation upon something, a studying, a careful preparation, μελέτη (so perh. only in Cic.): “loci multa commentatione atque meditatione parati,” Cic. de Or. 2, 27, 118.—In plur., Cic. de Or. 1, 60, 257; id. Brut. 71, 249; 27, 105: “commentatio inclusa in veritatis lucem proferenda est,” id. de Or. 1, 34, 157.—*
2. As rhet. fig., = ἐνθύμημα, Quint. 5, 10, 1.—
B. Trop.: “tota philosophorum vita, ut ait idem (Socrates), commentatio mortis est,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 30, 74 (transl. of Plat. Phaed. § 12: Τὸ μελέτημα αὐτὸ τοῦτό ἐστι τῶν φιλοσόφων, λύσις καὶ χωρισμὸς Ψυχῆς ἀπὸ σώματος), commentatio ferendi doloris, id. ib. 2, 18, 42.—
II. Concr., a learned work, treatise, dissertation, description (so perh. not ante-Aug.): “commentatio (de naturā animalium),” Plin. 8, 16, 17, § 44; so, “Indiae,” id. 6, 17, 21, § 60. —In plur., Plin. 28, 1, 2, § 7; Gell. praef. § 4.
