agrĭcŏla, ae, m. (Lucr. has gen. plur. agricolūm in 4, 586, but reg. form in 2, 1161; 6, 1260) [ager-colo], a cultivator of land, in the widest sense, a husbandman, agriculturist (including even the vine-dresser, gardener; also one who takes pleasure in agriculture, etc.); or in a more limited sense, a farmer, ploughman, countryman, boor, peasant.
I Prop.: bonum agricolam laudabant, Cato R. R. 1, 2: agricolae assidui, Cic. Rosc. Am. 16: (Deiotarus) optimus paterfamilias et diligentissimus agricola et pecuarius, devoted to agriculture and cattlebreeding , id. Deiot. 9: sed venio ad agricolas, the farmers , id. Sen. 16: agricolam laudat juris peritus, Hor. S. 1, 1, 9: invisum agricolis sidus, id. ib. 1, 7, 26: sollers, Nep. Cat. 3: peritissimus, Col. R. R. 1, 11, 1: fortunati, Verg. G. 2, 468: indomiti, id. A. 7, 521: parvo beati, Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 139: negotiosi, Col. R. R. 9, 2, 5: severi, Lucr. 5, 1356: miseri, Verg. A. 12, 292; Vulg. Gen. 4, 2; ib. Jacob. 5, 7.—Of the vine-dresser , keeper of a vineyard : locavit eam (vineam) agricolis, Vulg. Matt. 21, 33; ib. Joan. 15, 1.— Hence,
II Meton., of the gods, patrons , tutelary deities of agriculture , as Ceres , Bacchus , Faunus , etc.: agricolarum duces di, Varr. R. R. 1, 1, 4: Redditur agricolis gratia caelitibus, Tib. 2, 1, 36.