pectus — Lewis & Short
pectus, ŏris, n.kindred with the Sanscr. vakshas, pectus,
I the breast, in men and animals.
I Lit., the breast, the breastbone:
pectus, hoc est ossa praecordiis et vitalibus natura circumdedit,Plin. 11, 37, 82, § 207; cf. Cels. 8, 7 fin.; 8, 8, 2:
meum cor coepit in pectus emicare,Plaut. Aul. 4, 3, 4:
dignitas, quae est in latitudine pectoris,Quint. 11, 3, 141:
summis digitis pectus appetere,id. 11, 3, 124; 11, 3, 122:
pectore adverso,id. 2, 15, 7:
aequo pectore,upright, not inclined to one side, id. 11, 3, 125:
pectore in adverso ensem Condidit,Verg. A. 9, 347:
in pectusque cadit pronus,Ov. M. 4, 578:
latum demisit pectore clavum,Hor. S. 1, 6, 28; 2, 8, 90 et saep.; Vulg. Gen. 3, 14.—In the poets freq., in plur., of a person's breast: hasta volans perrumpit pectora ferro, Liv. Andron. ap. Prisc. p. 760 P.; Ov. M. 4, 554.—
II Transf.
A The stomach (poet.):
reserato pectore diras Egerere inde dapes ... gestit,Ov. M. 6, 663.—
B The breast.
1 As the seat of affection, courage, etc., the heart, feelings, disposition:
somnum socordiamque ex pectore oculisque amovere,Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 11:
Ah, guttula Pectus ardens mi adspersisti,i. e. a little comforted, id. Ep. 4, 1, 32:
in amicitiā, nisi, ut dicitur, apertum pectus videas, etc.,Cic. Lael. 26, 97:
si non ipse amicus per se amatur toto pectore ut dicitur,id. Leg. 1, 18, 49:
pietate omnium pectora imbuere,Liv. 1, 21, 1:
metus insidens pectoribus,id. 10, 41, 2; 1, 56, 4:
quinam pectora semper impavida repens terror invaserit,id. 21, 30, 2:
in eodem pectore nullum est honestorum turpiumque consortium,Quint. 12, 1, 4; 2, 5, 8:
te vero ... jam pectore toto Accipio,Verg. A. 9, 276:
his ubi laeta deae permulsit pectora dictis,id. ib. 5, 816:
robur et aes triplex circa pectus erat,Hor. C. 1, 3, 10; 2, 12, 15:
pectoribus mores tot sunt quot in orbe figurae,id. A. A. 1, 759:
mollities pectoris,tender-heartedness, id. Am. 3, 8, 18; id. H. 19, 192; so,
pectus amicitiae,a friendly heart, a friend, Mart. 9, 15, 2; Stat. S. 4, 4, 103; Manil. 2, 600.— Of courage, bravery:
cum tales animos juvenum et tam certa tulistis Pectora,Verg. A. 9, 249:
te vel per Alpium juga ... Forti sequemur pectore,Hor. Epod. 1, 11; Val. Fl. 6, 288.—Of conscience:
vita et pectore puro,Hor. S. 1, 6, 64:
pectora casta,Ov. H. 13, 30.—
2 The soul, spirit, mind, understanding:
de hortis toto pectore cogitemus,Cic. Att. 13, 12, 4; so,
incumbe toto pectore ad laudem,id. Fam. 10, 10, 2:
onerandum complendumque pectus maximarum rerum et plurimarum suavitate,id. de Or. 3, 30, 121:
quod verbum in pectus Jugurthae altius descendit,Sall. J. 11, 7; Liv. 1, 59:
(stultitiam tuam) in latebras abscondas pectore penitissumo,Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 64:
multipotens pectus habere, ut copias ... pectore promat suo,id. Bacch. 4, 1, 8 Fleck.: haben' tu amicum quoi pectus sapiat? id. Trin. 1, 2, 53; id. Bacch. 4, 4, 12:
at Cytherea novas artes, nova pectore versat Consilia,Verg. A. 1, 657:
oculis pectoris aliquid haurire,Ov. M. 15, 63; id. Tr. 3, 1, 64:
memori referas mihi pectore cuncta,Hor. S. 2, 4, 90:
nunc adbibe puro Pectore verba,id. Ep. 1, 2, 68; 2, 1, 128:
pectore arripere artes,Tac. Or. 28:
pectus est quod disertos facit, et vis mentis,Quint. 10, 7, 15; Ov. P. 2, 4, 24:
succinctaque pectora curis,Stat. S. 5, 1, 77:
rara occulti pectoris vox,i. e. a reserved disposition, Tac. A. 4, 52:
dicere de summo pectore,i.e. without much reflection, Gell. 17, 13, 7.—Of inspired persons:
incaluitque deo quem clausum pectore habebat,Ov. M. 2, 641; Verg. A. 6, 48; Stat. Th. 4, 542.—
3 The person, individual, regarded as a being of feeling or passion:
cara sororum Pectora,Verg. A. 11, 216:
mihi Thesea pectora juncta fide,Ov. Tr. 1, 3, 66:
pectus consulis gerere,Liv. 4, 13; cf. Mart. 9, 15; Manil. 2, 600; Stat. S. 4, 4, 103.