I.a raging, rage, fierceness, ferocity.
I. Lit., of animals: “sicut aves ad volatum, equi ad cursum, ad saevitiam ferae gignuntur,” Quint. 1, 1, 1: “canum,” Plin. 8, 40, 61, § 146. —
II. Transf., for any violent, passionate excitement, fierceness, violence, harshness, savageness, cruelty, barbarity, severity, etc. (freq. and class.).
A. Of persons: “num meam saevitiam veritus?” Ter. Eun. 5, 2, 15: “in judicio aut saevitiam aut clementiam judicis (sibi proponet),” Cic. Part. 4, 11; so (with immanitas) Plin. Ep. 2, 11, 2: “feneratorum (shortly before: violentia atque crudelitas),” Sall. C. 33, 1: “Iasidos,” Prop. 1, 1, 10; cf. “creditorum,” Tac. A. 11, 13: “ingenii,” Suet. Calig. 27: “hostium,” Sall. J. 7, 2; Tac. A. 1, 67; 2, 11; Liv. 2, 58: “secandi urendique,” Plin. 29, 1, 6, § 13; Cic. Off. 2, 7, 24: “saevitiam reprimere,” Suet. Calig. 6: “quantum saevitia glisceret,” Tac. A. 6, 19.—In plur.: “quibus saevitiis et maxime faenoris onere oppressa plebs,” Sall. H. 1, 9 Dietsch; cf. id. id. 2, 40 ib.—
B. Of things: “maris,” Vell. 1, 2, 7; Plin. 9, 31, 51, § 100: “Scyllae,” id. 3, 8, 14, § 87: “undae,” Ov. H. 19, 23: “hiemis,” Col. 8, 17, 11; Plin. 19, 8, 51, § 166; “for which, temporis,” Sall. J. 37, 4: “tempestatum,” Plin. 2, 47, 47, § 125: “caeli,” Curt. 8, 4, 13: “maris,” id. 4, 3, 7: “ignea (i. e. sacri ignis),” Col. 7, 5, 16: “amoris,” id. 6, 37, 1: “annonae,” i. e. dearness, Tac. A. 2, 87.
