vel-ut or vel-utī adv.
—In a comparison, even as, just as, like as, like: ne vitam silentio transeant veluti pecora, quae, etc., S.: veluti qui sentibus anguem Pressit, like one who, etc., V.: velut in cantu et fidibus, sic ex corporis totius naturā et figurā varios motūs cieri: cum velut Sagunti excidium Hannibali, sic, etc., L.—Introducing an example, as, for instance, for example: numquam tam male est Siculis, quin aliquid facete et commode dicant; velut in hac re aiebant, etc. —Esp, in a hypothetical comparison, in the phrase, velut si, just as if, just as though, as if, as though: absentis Ariovisti crudelitatem, velut si coram adesset, horrerent, Cs.: patres metus cepit, velut si iam ad portas hostis esset, L.: facies inducitur illis (corporibus mixtis) Una, velut si quis, etc., O.—With ablabsol.: cum velut inter pugnae fugaeque consilium trepidante equitatu, L.: velut diis cum patriā relictis, L.—Just as if, as though: Inque sinūs caros, veluti cognosceret, ibat, O.: velut ea res nihil ad religionem pertinuisset, L.