vultus — Lewis & Short
vultus (volt-), ūs, m. (
I neutr. collat. form, plur. volta, Enn. ap. Non. p. 230, 15, or Ann. v. 536 Vahl.; Lucr. 4, 1213) [etym. dub.; cf. Goth. vulthus, glory], an expression of countenance, the countenance, visage, as to features and expression; hence, often to be translated by features, looks, air, mien, expression, aspect (syn. aspectus).
I Lit.
A In gen., sing.: nam et oculi nimis arguti, quemadmodum animo affecti sumus, loquuntur, et is qui appellatur vultus, qui nullo in animante esse praeter hominem potest, indicat:
cujus vim Graeci norunt. nomen omnino non habent,Cic. Leg. 1, 9, 27:
imago animi vultus est, indices oculi,id. de Or. 3, 59, 221:
ea, quae nobis non possumus fingere, facies, voltus, sonus,id. ib. 1, 28, 127:
oculi, supercilia, frons, vultus denique totus, qui sermo quidam tacitus mentis est, hic in fraudem homines impulit,id. Pis. 1, 1:
vultus atque nutus,id. Lael. 25, 93:
acer in hostem,Hor. C. 1, 2, 40:
torvus,id. Ep. 1, 19, 12:
maestus,id. A. P. 106:
tali vultu gemens,Ov. Tr. 3, 4, 37:
qui spiritus illi, Qui voltus,Verg. A. 5, 649; cf.:
voltus tuus, cui regendum me tradidi,Sen. Ben. 6, 7, 1.— Plur.:
vultus mehercule tuos mihi expressit omnes,Cic. Fam. 12, 30, 3:
ficti simulatique vultus,id. Clu. 26, 72:
non modo severitatem illorum, sed ne vultus quidem ferre possemus,id. Planc. 18, 45:
tenere vultus mutantem Protea,Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 90:
super omnia vultus Accessere boni,kindly, Ov. M. 8, 677:
vultus modo sumit acerbos,id. Tr. 5, 8, 17.—
B In partic., an angry countenance, stern look, grim visage (poet. and in post-Aug. prose):
(justum virum) Non vultus instantis tyranni Mente quatit solidā,Hor. C. 3, 3, 3; id. S. 1, 6, 121; 2, 7, 44; Tac. A. 1, 12; Vulg. Psa. 20, 10; 33, 17. —
II Transf.
1 In gen., the face (syn.: facies, os): simiae vultum subire, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 12, 2:
bracchia et vultum teretesque suras laudo,Hor. C. 2, 4, 21:
petamque vultus umbra curvis unguibus,id. Epod. 5, 93; so in the plur., Ov. M. 5, 59; 5, 217; 5, 292; 6, 630; Mart. 1, 32, 5; Plin. 26, 1, 2, § 2 al.—
2 In partic., a painted face, portrait, likeness:
vultus Epicurios per cubicula gestant,Plin. 35, 2, 2, § 5; Vop. Prob. 23; Treb. Poll. Claud. 14.—
3 The face, look, appearance (poet.):
vultus capit illa priores,Ov. M. 1, 738:
inque nitentem Inachidos vultus mutaverat ille juvencam,id. ib. 1, 611.—Of things:
unus erat toto naturae vultus in orbe,Ov. M. 1, 6:
salis placidi,Verg. A. 5, 848.