assiduus

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

assĭdŭus (ads-, perh. only by confusion of 1. assiduus with 2. assiduus), i, m. [as-do; cf. infra, Gell. 16, 10, 15],

I a tributepayer; a name given by Servius Tullius to the citizens of the upper and more wealthy classes, in opp. to proletarii, citizens of the lowest classes, who benefit the state only by their progeny (proles).

I.A Lit.: cum locupletes assiduos (Servius) appellāsset ab aere dando, Cic. Rep. 2, 22, 40.—So in the Twelve Tables: adsiduo vindex adsiduus esto. Proletario jam civi, cui quis volet vindex esto, Gell. 16, 10, 5; cf. Dirks. Transl. 154 sq.: locuples enim est assiduus, ut ait L. Aelius, appellatus ab aere dando, Cic. Top. 2, 10; Varr. ap. Non. p. 67, 25: quibus erant pecuniae satis locupletes, assiduos; contrarios proletarios, id. ib.: assiduum ab aere dando, Quint. 5, 10, 55: adsiduus in Duodecim Tabulis pro locuplete dictus, ab assibus, id est aere dando, Gell. 16, 10, 15: adsiduus dicitur, qui in eā re, quam frequenter agit, quasi consedisse videatur. Alii assiduum locupletem, quasi multorum assium dictum putārunt. Alii eum, qui sumptu proprio militabat, ab asse dando vocatum existimārunt, Paul. ex Fest. p. 9 Müll.: ditiores qui asses dabant, assidui dicti sunt, Charis. p. 58 P.; cf. vindex ap. Cassiod. Orth. p. 2318 P.: assiduus dicebatur apud antiquos, qui assibus ad aerarii expensam conferendis erat, Isid. Orig. 10, 17; cf. Nieb. Röm. Gesch. 1, pp. 496-502.—

B Meton., a rich person : noctīsque diesque adsiduo satis superque est, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 14.—

II Trop., adject. of a first-rate , classical writer: classicus adsiduusque aliquis scriptor, non proletarius, Gell. 19, 8, 15 (cf. on the other hand: Proletario sermone nunc quidem utere, common talk , Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 157).

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