I.abl. sing. humu, Varr. ap. Non. 488, 6 and 48, 26), f. (archaic masc. humum humidum pedibus fodit, Laev. ap. Prisc. p. 719 P.: humidum humum, Gracch. ib.) [from the prim. form XAM, whence χăμαί, χăμόθεν, χăμα^λός, Lat. humilis; kindr. with Sanscr. Xám, earth; Gr. χθών], the earth, the ground, the soil.
I. Lit. (class.; cf.: terra, solum, tellus): humus erat immunda, lutulenta vino, coronis languidulis et spinis coöperta piscium, Cic. Fragm. Or. pro Gall. ap. Quint. 8, 3, 66 (ap. Orell. IV. 2, p. 454); cf.: “omnia constrata telis, armis, cadaveribus et inter ea humus infecta sanguine,” Sall. J. 101 fin.: “subacta atque pura,” Cic. de Sen. 17, 59: cubitis pinsibant humum, Enn. ap. Varr. L. L. 5, § 23 Müll. (Trag. v. 435 Vahl.); cf.: procubuit moriens et humum semel ore momordit. bit the ground and died (cf. the Homer. ὀδὰξ ἑλεῖν γαῖαν), Verg. A. 11, 418: “calcibus atram Tundit humum exspirans,” id. ib. 10, 731; cf. Ov. A. A. 1, 112: “pede candido In morem Salium ter quatient humum,” Hor. C. 4, 1, 28: “Acestes aequaevum ab humo attollit amicum,” Verg. A. 5, 452: “sedit humo,” Ov. M. 4, 261: “ipse feraces Figat humo plantas,” Verg. G. 4, 115; cf.: “semina spargere humo,” Ov. M. 5, 647: “surgit humo,” id. F. 6, 735; cf.: “nec se movit humo,” id. M. 4, 264: “dejectoque in humum vultu,” id. ib. 6, 607: “propter humum volitat,” id. ib. 8, 258: “humi atque ipsius stirpis laetitia,” Col. 4, 24, 4; cf.: “quis cibus erat caro ferina atque humi pabulum uti pecoribus,” Sall. J. 18, 1: “ii, quos humus injecta contegeret (shortly afterwards, gleba),” Cic. Leg. 2, 22, 57: “quae (genera arborum) humi arido atque arenoso gignuntur,” Sall. J. 48, 3 Kritz N. cr.—Poet., as a fig. for what is low, mean, common: “sermones repentes per humum,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 251; cf.: “ne, dum vitat humum, nubes et inania captet,” id. A. P. 230: “ad humum maerore gravi deducit et angit,” id. ib. 110; v. also under adv.: “affigit humo divinae particulam aurae,” id. S. 2, 2, 79.—
II. Transf., in gen., like solum, land, country, region: “Punica nec Teucris pressa fuisset humus,” Ov. H. 7, 140: “Aonia,” id. F. 1, 490: “Illyrica,” id. Med. Fac. 74: “Pontica,” id. P. 3, 5, 56.—
III. Adverbial form humi , like χαμαί, on the ground or to the ground: “jacere humi,” Cic. Cat. 1, 10, 26: “requiescere,” Sall. J. 85, 33: “strati,” Cic. de Or. 3, 6, 22; cf.: “serpit humi tutus nimium timidusque procellae,” Hor. A. P. 28: “quousque humi defixa tua mens erit?” fixed on the ground, Cic. Rep. 6, 17: “locus circiter duodecim pedes humi depressus,” Sall. C. 55, 3: “quot humi morientia corpora fundis?” Verg. A. 11, 665: “spargere humi dentes,” Ov. M. 3, 105; cf.: “hunc stravit humi,” id. ib. 12, 255: “tremens procumbit humi bos,” Verg. A. 5, 481: “volvitur ille excussus humi,” id. ib. 11, 640; cf.: “projectum humi jugulavit,” Tac. H. 2, 64: “stratus humi palmes viduas desiderat ulmos,” Juv. 8, 78.