bŏnus (old form dŭonus, Carm. Sall. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 26 Müll.; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 67 Müll.), a, um, adj. [for duonus, cf. bellum, bis, and cf. root dvi-; hence δείδω, δέος], good; comp. melior, us [cf. Gr. μάλα, μᾶλλον], better; sup. optimus (optumus, ante-class. and often class.) [root op of ops, opes; cf. copia, apiscor], best.
I Attributively.
A As adjunct of nouns denoting persons.
1 Vir bonus.
α A man morally good (καλὸς κἀγαθός): quoniam boni me viri pauperant, improbi alunt, Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 60: omnibus virtutibus instructos et ornatos tum sapientes, tum viros bonos dicimus, Cic. Tusc. 5, 10, 28: ille vir bonus qui... intolerabili dolore lacerari potius quam aut officium prodat aut fidem, id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 8, 23: sive vir bonus est is qui prodest quibus potest, nocet nemini, certe istum virum bonum non facile reperimus, id. Off. 3, 15, 64: qui se ita gerunt ut eorum probitas, fides, integritas, etc. ... hos viros bonos... appellandos putemus, id. Lael. 5, 19: non intellegunt se de callido homine loqui, non de bono viro, id. Att. 7, 2, 4: ut quisque est vir optimus, ita difficillime esse alios improbos suspicatur, id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 4, § 12: nec enim melior vir fuit Africano quisquam, nec clarior, id. Lael. 2, 6; id. Leg. 1, 14, 41; 1, 18, 48; id. Planc. 4, 9; id. Par. 3, 1, 21; id. Marcell. 6, 20; id. Fam. 7, 21; id. Off. 2, 16, 57.—
β An honest man : justitia, ex quā viri boni nominantur, Cic. Off. 1, 7, 21; 1, 44, 155; 2, 11, 39; 2, 12, 42; 2, 20, 71; 3, 12, 50: cum is sponsionem fecisset ni vir bonus esset, id. ib. 3, 19, 77: quoniam Demosthenes nec vir bonus esset, nec bene meritus de civitate, id. Opt. Gen. 7, 20; cf. id. Rosc. Am. 40, 116.—
γ A man of good standing in the community : id viri boni arbitratu deducetur, Cato R. R. 143; so id. ib. 149: tuam partem viri bono arbitratu... dari oportet, Dig. 17, 1, 35; 37, 6, 2, § 2: quem voles virum bonum nominato, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 25, § 55: vir bonus est... quo res sponsore, et quo causae teste tenentur, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 40.—Hence, ironically of wealthy men: praetores jus dicunt, aediles ludos parant, viri boni usuras perscribunt, Cic. Att. 9, 12, 3.—
δ Ironically of bad men: sed eccum lenonem Lycum, bonum virum, Plaut. Poen. 5, 5, 52; Ter. Eun. 918; 660; id. Ad. 476: expectabam quinam isti viri boni testes hujus manifesto deprehensi veneni dicerentur, Cic. Cael. 26, 63: nam socer ejus, vir multum bonus est, id. Agr. 3, 3, 13; so especially in addresses (mostly comic.): age tu, illuc procede, bone vir! Plaut. Capt. 5, 2, 1; id. Curc. 5, 2, 12; id. Ps. 4, 7, 48; id. Pers. 5, 2, 11; Ter. And. 616; 846; id. Ad. 556; id. Eun. 850: quid tu, vir optime? Ecquid habes quod dicas? Cic. Rosc. Am. 36, 104.—
ε Sometimes boni viri = boni, in the sense of optimates (v. I. A. 3.): bonis viris quid juris reliquit tribunatus C. Gracchi? Cic. Leg. 3, 9, 20.—
ζ As a conventional courtesy: homines optimi non intellegunt, etc., Cic. Fin. 1, 7, 25: bone accusator, id. Rosc. Am. 21, 58: sic illum amicum vocasti, quomodo omnes candidatos bonos viros dicimus, gentlemen , Sen. Ep. 3, 1.—For bonus vir, a good husband , v. 3.; and for vir optimus, as a laudatory epithet, v. 5.—
2 Boni homines (rare) = boni, better classes of society , v. II. A. 3: in foro infimo boni homines atque dites ambulant, Plaut. Curc. 4, 1, 14.—
3 With nouns denoting persons in regard to their functions, offices, occupations, and qualities, denoting excellence: bonus consul, Liv. 4, 40, 6; 22, 39, 2 (different: consules duos, bonos quidem, sed dumtaxat bonos, amisimus, consuls of good sentiments , almost = bad consuls , Cic. ad Brut. 1, 3, 4): boni tribuni plebis, Cic. Phil. 1, 10, 25: bonus senator, id. Prov. Cons. 15, 37: senator bonus, id. Dom. 4, 8: bonus judex, id. Verr. 2, 4, 15, § 34: bonus augur (ironically), id. Phil. 2, 32, 80: bonus vates, Plaut. Mil. 3, 3, 27: bonus imperator, Sall. C. 60, 4: bonus dux, Quint. 12, 1, 43 (cf. trop.: naturam, optimam ducem, the best guide , Cic. Sen. 2, 5): bonus miles, Sall. C. 60, 4; Sen. Vit. Beat. 15, 5: bonus orator, Cic. Fin. 1, 3, 10: optimus orator, id. Opt. Gen. 1, 3: poëta bonus, id. de Or. 1, 3, 11; 2, 46, 194; id. Fin. 1, 3, 10: scriptor bonus, Quint. 10, 1, 104: bonus advocatus, id. 5, 13, 10: bonus defensor, id. 5, 13, 3: bonus altercator, a good debater , id. 6, 4, 10: bonus praeceptor, id. 5, 13, 44; 10, 5, 22: bonus gubernator, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 31, 100: optimus opifex, Hor. S. 1, 3, 133: sutor bonus, id. ib. 1, 3, 125: actor optimus, Cic. Sest. 57, 122: cantor optimus est modulator, Hor. S. 1, 3, 130: melior gladiator, Ov. Tr. 4, 6, 33: agricola (colonus, dominus) bonus, Cato R. R. prooem.; Cic. Sen. 16, 56: bonus paterfamilias, a thrifty head of the house , Nep. Att. 13, 1: bonus servus, Plaut. Trin. 4, 3, 58; id. Am. 2, 1, 46; id. Men. 5, 6, 1; Cic. Mil. 22, 58: dominus bonus, Cato R. R. 14: bonus custos, Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 38.—Ironically, Ter. Phorm. 287: filius bonus, Plaut. Am. 3, 4, 9: patres, Quint. 11, 3, 178: parens, id. 6, prooem. 4: bonus (melior, optimus), viz. a good husband , Cic. Inv. 1, 31, 51 sq.; Liv. 1, 9, 15: uxor melior, Cic. Inv. 1, 31, 52: amicus, id. Fam. 2, 15, 3: amicus optimus, Plaut. Cas. 3, 3, 18: optimus testis, Cic. Fam. 7, 27, 2: auctor, in two senses, good authority , id. Att. 5, 12, 3; and = bonus scriptor (post-class.), Quint. 10, 1, 74.—Esp.: bonus civis (rarely civis bonus): in re publicā ea velle quae tranquilla et honesta sint: talem enim solemus et sentire bonum civem et dicere, Cic. Off. 1, 34, 124: eaque est summa ratio et sapientia boni civis, commoda civium non divellere, atque omnes aequitate eādem continere, id. ib. 2, 23, 83: eum esse civem et fidelem et bonum, Plaut. Pers. 1, 2, 15; Cic. Fam. 2, 8, 2; 1, 9, 10; 3, 12, 1; 6, 6, 11; id. Off. 1, 44, 155; Liv. 22, 39, 3; Sall. H. Fragm. 1, 10 Dietsch: optimus et fortissimus civis, Cic. Fam. 12, 2, 3; id. Sest. 17, 39.—
4 Bonus and optimus as epithets of the gods.
α In gen.: sed te bonus Mercurius perdat, Plaut. Cas. 2, 3, 23: fata... bonique divi, Hor. C. 4, 2, 38: divis orte bonis, id. ib. 4, 5, 1: O bone deus! Scrib. Comp. 84 fin. : BONORVM DEORVM, Inscr. ap. Cic. N. D. 3, 34, 84: totidem, pater optime, dixi, Tu mihi da cives, referring to Jupiter, Ov. M. 7, 627.—
β Optimus Maximus, a standing epithet of Jupiter: (Juppiter) a majoribus nostris Optimus Maximus (nominatur), et quidem ante optimus, id est beneficentissimus, quam Maximus, Cic. N. D. 2, 25, 64: Jovem optimum et maximum ob eas res appellant, non quod, etc., id. ib. 3, 36, 87: in templo Jovis Optimi Maximi, id. Sest. 56, 129; id. Prov. Cons. 9, 22: nutu Jovis Optimi Maximi, id. Cat. 3, 9, 21; Liv. 1, 12, 7; id. 6, 16, 2.—
γ Di boni, O di boni, expressing indignation, sorrow, or surprise: di boni, hunc visitavi antidhac! Plaut. Ep. 4, 1, 16: di boni, boni quid porto! Ter. And. 338: di boni, quid hoc morbi est, id. Eun. 225; id. Heaut. 254; id. Ad. 440: alter, O di boni, quam taeter incedebat! Cic. Sest. 8, 19; id. Brut. 84, 288; id. Phil. 2, 8, 20; 2, 32, 80; id. Att. 1, 16, 5; 14, 21, 2; Val. Max. 3, 5, 1; Sen. Vit. Beat. 2, 3.—
δ Bona Dea, etc., v. 6.—
5 Optimus as a laudatory epithet.
α Vir optimus: per vos nobis, per optimos viros optimis civibus periculum inferre conantur, Cic. Sest. 1, 2: virum optimum et constantissimum M. Cispium, id. ib. 35, 76: fratrem meum, virum optimum, fortissimum, id. ib.: consolabor hos praesentes, viros optimos, id. Balb. 19, 44; id. Planc. 21, 51; 23, 55; id. Mil. 14, 38; id. Marcell. 4, 10; id. Att. 5, 1, 5; Hor. S. 1, 6, 53.—
β Femina bona, optima: tua conjunx bona femina, Cic. Phil. 3, 6, 16: hujus sanctissimae feminae atque optimae pater, id. ib.—
γ Senex, pater, frater, etc.: optimus: parentes ejus, prudentissimi atque optimi senis, Cic. Planc. 41, 97: insuevit pater optimus hoc me, Hor. S. 1, 4, 105; 2, 1, 12: C. Marcelli, fratris optimi, Cic. Fam. 4, 7, 6; id. Q. Fr. 2, 6 (8), 2; 2, 4, 2.—
δ With proper names (poet.): optimus Vergilius, Hor. S. 1, 6, 54: Maecenas optimus, id. ib. 1, 5, 27: optime Quinti, id. Ep. 1, 16, 1.—
ε Esp. as an epithet of the Roman emperors: quid tam civile, tam senatorium quam illud, additum a nobis Optimi cognomen? Plin. Pan. 2, 7: gratias, inquit, ago, optime Princeps! Sen. Tranq. 14, 4: ex epistulā optimi imperatoris Antonini, Gai. Inst. 1, 102; cf.: bene te patriae pater optime Caesar, Ov. F. 2, 637: optime Romulae Custos gentis, Hor. C. 4, 5, 1.—
6 Bonus and Bona, names of deities.
α Bona Dea, the goddess of Chastity, whose temple could not be entered by males (cf. Macr. S. 1, 12; Lact. 1, 22): Bonae Deae pulvinaribus, Cic. Pis. 39, 95; id. Mil. 31, 86; id. Fam. 1, 9, 15; cf. in mal. part., Juv. 2, 86 sq.; 6, 314 sq.; 6, 335 sq.—
β Bonus Eventus, Varr. R. R. 1, 1 med. ; Amm. 29, 6, 19; Inscr. Orell. 907; 1780 sq.—
γ Bona Fortuna: si bona Fortuna veniat, ne intromiseris, Plaut. Aul. 1, 3, 22: Bonae Fortunae (signum), Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 3, § 7: FORTVNAE BONAE DOMESTICAE, Inscr. Orell. 1743 sq.—
δ Bona Spes: Spes Bona, obsecro, subventa mihi, Plaut. Rud. 1, 4, 12: BONAE SPEI, Aug. Inscr. Grut. 1075, 1.—
ε BONA MENS, Inscr. Orell. 1818 sqq.: Mens Bona, si qua dea es, tua me in sacraria dono, Prop. 3, 24, 19.
B With nouns denoting things.
1 Things concrete, denoting excellence: navis bona dicitur non quae pretiosis coloribus picta est... sed stabilis et firma, Sen. Ep. 76, 13: gladium bonum dices, non cui auratus est balteus, etc., sed cui et ad secandum subtilis acies est, et, etc., id. ib. 76, 14: id vinum erit lene et bono colore, Cato R. R. 109; Lucr. 2, 418; Ov. Am. 2, 7, 9: tabulas... collocare in bono lumine, Cic. Brut. 75, 261: ex quāvis oleā oleum ... bonum fieri potest. Cato R. R. 3: per aestatem boves aquam bonam et liquidam bibant semper curato, id. ib. 73; cf.: bonae aquae, ironically compared to wine, Prop. 2, 33 (3, 31), 28: praedium bonum caelum habeat, good temperature , Cato R. R. 1: bonā tempestate, in good weather , Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 2, 4: (praedium) solo bono valeat, by good soil , Cato R. R. 1: bonae (aedes) cum curantur male, Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 24: villam bonam, Cic. Off. 3, 13, 55: bonus pons, Cat. 17, 5: scyphi optimi (= optime facti), Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 14, § 32: perbona toreumata, id. ib. 2, 4, 18, § 38: bona domicilia, comfortable residences , id. N. D. 2, 37, 95: agrum Meliorem nemo habet, Ter. Heaut. 64: fundum meliorem, Cic. Inv. 1, 31, 52: fundos optimos et fructuosissimos, id. Agr. 3, 4, 14: equus melior, id. Inv. 1, 31, 52: bona cena, Cat. 13, 3: boni nummi, good , not counterfeit , Plaut. As. 3, 3, 144; Cic. Off. 3, 23, 91: super omnia vultus accessere boni, good looks , Ov. M. 8, 678: mulier bonā formā, of a fine form , Ter. Heaut. 524: equus formae melioris, Hor. S. 2, 7, 52: tam bona cervix, simul ac jussero, demetur, fine , beautiful , Suet. Calig. 33: fruges bonae, Cat. 34, 19: ova suci melioris, of better flavor , Hor. S. 2, 4, 13.— Trop.: animus aequus optimum est aerumnae condimentum, Plaut. Rud. 2, 3, 71: bona dextra, a lucky hand (cf.: bonum omen, 2. e.), Quint. 6, 3, 69: scio te bonā esse voce, ne clama nimis, good , sound , loud voice , Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 43; so, bona firmaque vox, Quint. 11, 3, 13.—
2 Things abstract.
a Of physical well-being: ut si qui neget sine bonā valetudine posse bene vivi, Cic. Inv. 1, 51, 93; Sen. Vit. Beat. 22, 2; Lucr. 3, 102; Val. Max. 2, 5, 6; Quint. 10, 3, 26; 11, 2, 35 et saep.: non bonus somnus de prandio est, Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 8: bona aetas, prime of life , Cic. Sen. 14, 48: optimā aetate, id. Fam. 10, 3, 3.—Ironically: bonā, inquis, aetate, etc., Sen. Ep. 76, 1.—
b Of the mind and soul: meliore esse sensu, Cic. Sest. 21, 47: optima indoles, id. Fin. 5, 22, 61: bona conscientia, Quint. 6, 1, 33; 9, 2, 93; Sen. Vit. Beat. 20, 5: bono ingenio me esse ornatam quam auro multo mavolo, with a good heart , Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 91; id. Stich. 1, 21, 59; Sall. C. 10, 5: mens melior, Ter. Ad. 432; Cic. Phil. 3, 5, 13; Liv. 39, 16, 5; Sen. Ben. 1, 11, 4; id. Ep. 10, 4; Pers. 2, 8; Petr. 61.—Personified, Prop. 3 (4), 24, 19; Ov. Am. 1, 2, 31: duos optimae indolis filios, Val. Max. 5, 7, 2; Sen. Ben. 6, 16, 6; Quint. 1, 2, 5: bonum consilium, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 6; id. Rud. 4, 3, 18; Cic. Off. 1, 33, 121: bona voluntas, a good purpose , Quint. 12, 11, 31: memoria bona, Cic. Att. 8, 4, 2: bona ratio cum perditā... confligit, id. Cat. 2, 11, 25: bonae rationes, Ter. Ad. 836: pronuntiatio bona, Auct. Her. 3, 15, 27.—
c Of moral relations: ego si bonam famam mihi servasso, sat ero dives, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 71; Cic. Sest. 66, 139; Liv. 6, 11, 7; Hor. S. 1, 2, 61 (cf. Cic. Att. 7, 26, 1; v. e. infra): si ego in causā tam bonā cessi tribuni plebis furori, Cic. Sest. 16, 36; id. Planc. 36, 87; Ov. M. 5, 220: fac, sis, bonae frugi sies, of good , regular habits , Plaut. Curc. 4, 2, 35; id. Cas. 2, 4, 5; 2, 5, 19; id. Ps. 1, 5, 53; id. Truc. 1, 1, 13; id. Capt. 5, 2, 3 sq. (v. frux, II. B. 1. β.): vilicus disciplinā bonā utatur. Cato R. R. 5: bona studia, moral pursuits , Auct. Her. 4, 17, 25: quidquid vitā meliore parasti, Hor. S. 2, 3, 15: ad spem mortis melioris, an honorable death; so as an epithet of religious exercises: Juppiter, te bonas preces precor, Cato R. R. 134; 139.—
d Of external, artistic, and literary value and usefulness: bono usui estis nulli, Plaut. Curc. 4, 2, 15: Optumo optume optumam operam das, id. Am. 1, 1, 122: bonam dedistis mihi operam, a valuable service to me , id. Poen. 2, 3, 70; 3, 6, 11; id. Pers. 4, 7, 11; id. Rud. 3, 6, 11 (in a different sense: me bonā operā aut malā Tibi inventurum esse auxilium argentarium, by fair or unfair means , id. Ps. 1, 1, 102; v. e. infra): optima hereditas a patribus traditur liberis... gloria virtutis rerumque gestarum, Cic. Off. 1, 33, 121: bonum otium, valuable leisure , Sall. C. 4, 1: bonis versibus, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 23, 74: versus meliores, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 81: meliora poemata, Hor. A. P. 303: in illā pro Ctesiphonte oratione longe optimā, Cic. Or. 8, 26: optimas fabulas, id. Off. 1, 31, 114: melius munus, id. Ac. 1, 2, 7.—
e Favorable , prosperous , lucky , fortunate : de Procilio rumores non boni, unfavorable rumors , Cic. Att. 4, 16, 5: bona de Domitio, praeclara de Afranio fama est, about their success in the war , id. ib. 7, 26, 1: si fuisset in discipulo comparando meliore fortunā, id. Pis. 29, 71; cf. fortunā optimā esse, to be in the best pecuniary circumstances , id. ad Brut. 1, 1, 2: occasio tam bona, Plaut. Most. 2, 2, 9: senex est eo meliore condicione quam adulesoens cum, etc., Cic. Sen. 19, 68; id. Fam. 4, 32: bona navigatio, id. N. D. 3, 34, 83; esp. in phrase bona spes.—Object.: ergo in iis adulescentibus bonam spem esse dicemus et magnam indolem quos, etc., Cic. Fin. 2, 35, 117.—Subject.: ego sum spe bonā, Cic. Fam. 12, 28, 3; id. Cat. 2, 11, 25; id. Att. 14, 1 a, 3; id. Q. Fr. 1, 2, 5, § 16: optimā spe, id. Fam. 12, 11, 2.—Pregn., = spes bonarum rerum, Sall. C. 21, 1; v. C. 1. c. infra: meliora responsa, more favorable , Liv. 7, 21, 6: melior interpretatio, Tac. H. 3, 65: cum laude et bonis recordationibus, id. A. 4, 38: amnis Doctus iter melius, i. e. less injurious , Hor. A. P. 68: omen bonum, a good , lucky omen , Cic. Pis. 13, 31; cf. Liv. praef. § 13: melius omen, Ov. F. 1, 221; optimum, Cic. Fam. 3, 12, 2: bona scaeva, Plaut. Stich. 5, 2, 24: auspicio optumo, id. ib. 3, 2, 6; cf.: memini bene, sed meliore Tempore dicam = opportuniore tempore, Hor. S. 1, 9, 68.—
f Of public affairs, si mihi bonā re publicā frui non licuerit, Cic. Mil. 34, 93: optima res publica, id. Or. 1, 1, 1; id. Phil. 1, 8, 19: minus bonis temporibus, id. Dom. 4, 8; so, optimis temporibus, id. Sest. 3, 6: nostrae res meliore loco videbantur, id. ad Brut. 1, 3, 1: lex optima, id. Pis. 16, 37; id. Sest. 64, 137; id. Phil. 1, 8, 19.—
g Good = large , considerable : bono atque amplo lucro, Plaut. Am. prol. 6: bona librorum copia, Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 109; cf.: bona copia cornu, Ov. M. 9, 88; v. bona pars, C. 8. γ.—
h Noble; with genus, good family , noble extraction , honorable birth : quali me arbitraris genere prognatum? Eu. Bono, Plaut. Aul. 2, 2, 35; so id. Ep. 1, 2, 4; 2, 1, 3; id. Pers. 4, 4, 94: si bono genere natus sit, Auct. Her. 3, 7, 13.—
k Referring to good-will, kindness, faithfulness, in certain phrases.
α Bonā veniā or cum bonā veniā, with the kind permission of a person addressed, especially bonā veniā orare, expetere, etc.: primum abs te hoc bonā veniā expeto, Ter. Phorm. 378: bonā tuā veniā dixerim, Cic. Leg. 3, 15, 34: orāvit bonā veniā Quirites, ne, etc., Liv. 7, 41, 3: obsecro vos.. bonā veniā vestrā liceat, etc., id. 6, 40, 10: cum bonā veniā quaeso audiatis, etc., id. 29, 17, 6; Arn. c. Gent. 1, p. 5; cf.. sed des veniam bonus oro = veniā bonā oro, Hor. S. 2, 4, 5.—
β Bona pax, without quarrelling : bona pax sit potius, let us have no quarrel about that , Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 7; so especially cum bonā pace, or bonā pace: Hannibal ad Alpis cum bonā pace incolentium... pervenit, without a difficulty with the inhabitants , Liv. 21, 32, 6; 21, 24, 5; 1, 24, 3; 28, 37, 4; 8, 15, 1; cf.: si bonam (pacem) dederitis, = a fair peace , under acceptable conditions , id. 8, 21, 4.—
γ Amicitia bona = bonā fide servata, faithful , undisturbed friendship : igitur amicitia Masinissae bona atque honesta nobis permansit, Sall. J. 5, 5.—
δ Bona societas, alliance : Segestes, memoriā bonae societatis, impavidus, Tac. A. 1, 58.
C In particular phrases.
1 Bonae res.
a = Vitae commoda, comforts of life , abstract or concrete: concedatur bonis rebus homines morte privari, Cic. Tusc. 1, 36, 87: optimis rebus usus est, he had every most desirable thing , Nep. Att. 18, 1.—
b = Res secundae, opp. res adversae, prosperity : bonis rebus tuis, meas irrides malas, Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 45: in bonis rebus, Hor. C. 2, 3, 2. —
c Res bona = res familiaris bona, wealth (poet.): in re bonā esse, Laber. ap. Gell. 10, 17, 4.—Also an object of value: homines quibus mala abunde omnia erant, sed neque res neque spes bona ulla, who had no property , nor the hope of any , Sall. C. 21, 1. —
d Costly things , articles of luxury : capere urbem in Arabiā plenam bonarum rerum, Plaut. Pers. 4, 3, 46; 4, 4, 82: nimium rei bonae, id. Stich. 2, 3, 55: ignorantia bonarum rerum, Nep. Ages. 8, 5: bonis rebus gaudere, Hor. S. 2, 6, 110: re bonā copiosum esse, Gell. 16, 19, 7.—
e Moral , morally good : illi cum res non bonas tractent, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 33, 72: ut de virtutibus et vitiis, omninoque de bonis rebus et malis quaererent, id. ib. 1, 4, 15: quid habemus in rebus bonis et malis explorati? id. ib. 2, 42, 129; so id. Or. 1, 10, 42; id. Leg. 1, 22, 58: quae tamen omnia dulciora fuint et moribus bonis et artibus, id. Sen. 18, 65.—
f In literary composition, important or interesting matter , subjects , or questions : res bonas verbis electis dictas quis non legat? Cic. Fin. 1, 3, 8: studiis generorum, praesertim in re bonā, Plaut. Am. 8, 26.—
2 Bonae artes.
α A good , laudable way of dealing : qui praeclari facinoris aut artis bonae famam quaerit, Sall. C. 2, 9: huic bonae artes desunt, dolis atque fallaciis contendit, id. ib. 11, 2: quod is bonarum artium cupiens erat, Tac. A. 6, 46.—
β Liberal arts and sciences : litteris aut ulli bonae arti, Quint. 12, 1, 7: conservate civem bonarum artium, bonarum partium, bonorum virorum, Cic. Sest. 32, 77. —Esp.: optimae artes: optimarum artium scientia, Cic. Fin. 1, 3, 4; id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 1, 1; id. Cael. 10, 24; id. Marcell. 1, 4.—
3 Bona fides, or fides bona.
a Good faith , i. e. conscious honesty in acts or words : qui nummos fide bonā solvit, who pays (the price of labor) in good faith , i. e. as it is honestly earned , Cato R. R. 14: dic, bonā fide, tu id aurum non subripuisti? Plaut. Aul. 4, 10, 46; 4, 10, 47; id. Capt. 4, 2, 111; id. Most. 3, 1, 137; id. Poen. 1, 3, 30; id. Pers. 4, 3, 16; id. Ps. 4, 6, 33: si tibi optimā fide omnia concessit, Cic. Rosc. Am. 49, 144; Quint. 10, 3, 23.—Hence, bonae fidei vir, a conscientious man , Quint. 10, 7, 1.—
b Jurid. t. t.
α Good faith in contracts and legal acts in general, opposed to dolus malus, honesty and fairness in dealing with another : ad fidem bonam statuit pertinere, notum esse emptori vitium quod nosset venditor, Cic. Off. 3, 16, 67.—Hence, alienam rem bonā fide emere, to buy , believing the seller to be the rightful owner , Dig. 41, 3, 10; 41, 3, 13, § 1. bonae fidei possessor (also possessio), believing that he is the rightful owner , ib. 5, 3, 25, § 11; 5, 3, 22; 41, 3, 15, § 2; 41, 3, 24: conventio contra bonam fidem et mores bonos, ib. 16, 31, § 7: bonam fidem praestare, to be responsible for one’s good faith , ib. 17, 1, 10 prooem.—Hence,
β Bonae fidei actiones or judicia, actions in equity , i. e. certain classes of actions in which the strict civil law was set aside by the praetorian edict in favor of equity: actiones quaedam bonae fidei sunt, quaedam stricti juris. Bonae fidei sunt haec: exempto vendito, locato conducto, etc., Just. Inst. 4, 6, 28, § 19.—In the republican time the praetor added in such actions to his formula for the judex the words ex fide bonā, or, in full: quidquid dare facere oportet ex fide bonā, Cic. Off. 3, 16, 66: iste dolus malus et legibus erat vindicatus, et sine lege, judiciis in quibus additur ex fide bonā, id. ib. 3, 15, 61; cf. id. ib. 3, 17, 70.—
4 Bona verba.
α Kind words : Bona verba quaeso, Ter. And. 204.—
β Words of good omen (v. omen): dicamus bona verba, Tib. 2, 2, 1: dicite suffuso ter bona verba mero, Ov. F. 2, 638.—
γ Elegant or well-chosen expressions : quid est tam furiosum quam verborum vel optimorum atque ornatissimorum sonitus inanis, Cic. Or. 1, 12, 51: verborum bonorum cursu, id. Brut. 66, 233: omnia verba sunt alicubi optima, Quint. 10, 1, 9.—
δ Moral sayings : non est quod contemnas bona verba et bonis cogitationibus plena praecordia, Sen. Vit. Beat. 20, 1. —
5 Bona dicta.
α Polite , courteous language : hoc petere me precario a vobis jussit leniter dictis bonis, Plaut. Am. prol. 25.—
β Witticisms ( bon-mots ): flammam a sapiente facilius ore in ardente opprimi, quam bona dicta teneat, Enn. ap. Cic. Or. 2, 54, 222: dico unum ridiculum dictum de dictis melioribus quibus solebam menstruales epulas ante adipiscier, Plaut. Capt. 3, 1, 22: ibo intro ad libros ut discam de dictis melioribus, id. Stich. 2, 3, 75.—
6 Bona facta.
α = bene facta (v. bene, I. B. 2. b.), laudable deeds : nobilitas ambobus et majorum bona facta (sc. erant), Tac. A. 3, 40.—
β Bonum factum est, colloq., = bene est, bene factum est (v. bene, I. B. 2. b.): bonum factum est, ut edicta servetis mea, Plaut. Poen. prol. 16: haec imperata quae sunt pro imperio histrico, bonum hercle factum (est) pro se quisque ut meminerit, id. ib. 45.— Hence,
γ Elliptically, introducing commands which cannot be enforced, = if you will do so , it will be well : peregrinis in senatum allectis, libellus propositus est: bonum factum, ne quis senatori novo curiam monstrare velit, Suet. Caes. 80: et Chaldaeos edicere: bonum factum, ne Vitellius ... usquam esset, id. Vit. 14: hac die Carthaginem vici: bonum factum, in Capitolium eamus, et deos supplicemus, Aur. Vict. 49; cf.: o edictum, cui adscribi non poterit bonum factum, Tert. Pud. 1.—
7 Bona gratia.
α A friendly understanding : cur non videmus inter nos haec potius cum bonā Ut componantur gratiā quam cum malā? Ter. Phorm. 622; so, per gratiam bonam abire, to part with good feelings , Plaut. Mil. 4, 3, 33.—In jest: sine bonā gratiā abire, of things cast away , Plaut. Truc. 2, 7, 15.—
β Pleon., in the phrase bonam gratiam habere, = gratiam habere, to thank (v. B. 2. k.), Plaut. Rud. 2, 5, 32; id. Bacch. 4, 8, 99.—
8 Bona pars.
α The well-disposed part of a body of persons: ut plerumque fit, major pars (i. e. of the senate) meliorem vicit, Liv. 21, 4, 1: pars melior senatūs ad meliora responsa trahere, id. 7, 21, 6.—
β The good party , i. e. the optimates (gen. in plur.): civem bonarum partium, Cic. Sest. 32, 77: (fuit) meliorum partium aliquando, id. Cael. 6, 13: qui sibi gratiam melioris partis velit quaesitam, Liv. 2, 44, 3.—Paronom.: (Roscius) semper partium in re publicā tam quam in scaenā optimarum, i. e. party and part in a drama , Cic. Sest. 56, 120.—
γ Of things or persons, a considerable part (cf. a good deal ): bonam partem ad te adtulit, Ter. Eun. 123: bonam partem sermonis in hunc diem esse dilatam, Cic. Or. 2, 3, 14: bonam magnamque partem exercitūs, Val. Max. 5, 2, ext. 4: bona pars noctium, Quint. 12, 11, 19: bona pars hominum, Hor. S. 1, 1, 61: meae vocis... bona pars, id. C. 4, 2, 46; so id. A. P. 297; Ov. P. 1, 8, 74: melior pars diei, Verg. A. 9, 156.—
δ Rarely, and mostly eccl. Lat.: optima pars, the best part or lot : nostri melior pars animus est, Sen. Q. N. 1, prooem. § 14; cf.: quae pars optima est in homine, best , most valuable , Cic. Tusc. 5, 23, 67: major pars aetatis, certe melior reipublicae data sit, Sen. Brev. Vit. 18, 1: Maria optimam partem elegit, quae non auferetur ab eā, Vulg. Luc. 10, 42.—
ε Adverb.: bonam partem = ex magnā parte, Lucr. 6, 1249.—
ζ Aliquem in optimam partem cognoscere, to know somebody from his most favorable side , Cic. Off. 2, 13, 46: aliquid in optimam partem accipere, to take something in good part , interpret it most favorably : Caesar mihi ignoscit quod non venerim, seseque in optimam partem id accipere dicit, id. Att. 10, 3 a, 2; id. ad Brut. 1, 2, 3: quaeso ut hoc in bonam partem accipias, id. Rosc. Am. 16, 45.—
9 Dies bonus or bona.
α A day of good omen , a fortunate day (= dies laetus, faustus): tum tu igitur die bono, Aphrodisiis, addice, etc., Plaut. Poen. 2, 49: nunc dicenda bonā sunt bona verba die, Ov. F. 1, 72.—
β A beautiful , serene day , Sen. Vit. Beat. 22, 3.—
10 Bonus mos.
α Boni mores, referring to individuals, good , decent , moral habits : nihil est amabilius quam morum similitudo bonorum, Cic. Off. 1, 17, 56: nam hic nimium morbus mores invasit bonos, Plaut. Trin. 1, 1, 6: domi militiaeque boni mores colebantur, Sall. C. 9, 1: propter ejus suavissimos et optimos mores, Cic. Phil. 3, 5, 13: cum per tot annos matronae optimis moribus vixerint, Liv. 34, 6, 9: mores meliores, Plaut. Aul. 3, 5, 18.—
β Bonus mos or boni mores, in the abstract, morality , the laws , rules of morality : ei vos morigerari mos bonu'st, it is a rule of morality that you should , etc., Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 4: ex optimo more et sanctissimā disciplinā, Cic. Phil. 2, 28, 69: neglegentia boni moris, Sen. Ep. 97, 1.—Jurid. t. t.: conventio, mandatum contra bonos mores, in conflict with morality , Quint. 3, 1, 57; Dig. 16, 3, 1, § 7; Gai. Inst. 3, 157 et saep. —
11 Adverbial phrases.
a Bono animo esse, or bonum animum habere.
α To be of good cheer or courage : bono animo es! Liberabit ille te homo, Plaut. Merc. 3, 1, 33; so id. Aul. 4, 10, 61; id. Mil. 4, 8, 32; id. Rud. 3, 3, 17; Ter. Eun. 84; id. Heaut. 822; id. Ad. 284; 511; 543; 696; id. Phorm. 965: animo bono es, Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 103; id. Am. 2, 2, 48; 5, 2, 1: bono animo es, inquit Scrofa, et fiscinam expedi, Varr. R. R. 1, 26: bono animo sint et tui et mei familiares, Cic. Fam. 6, 18, 1; 6, 10, 29: bono animo esse jubere eam consul, Liv. 39, 13, 7: habe modo bonum animum, Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 58; so id. Am. 1, 3, 47; id. Truc. 2, 6, 44; id. Aul. 2, 2, 15: habe animum bonum, id. Cas. 2, 6, 35; id. Ep. 2, 2, 1; 4, 2, 31: bonum animum habe, Liv. 45, 8, 5: clamor ortus ut bonum animum haberet, id. 8, 32, 1; so Sen. Ep. 87, 38.—
β Bono animo esse, or facere aliquid, to be of a good or friendly disposition , or to do with good , honest intentions : audire jubet vos imperator histricus, bonoque ut animo sedeant in subselliis qui, etc., Plaut. Poen. prol. 5: sunt enim (consules) optimo animo, summo consilio, of the best disposition , Cic. Phil. 3, 1, 2: bono te animo tum populus Romanus... dicere existimavit ea quae sentiebatis, sed, etc., id. Imp. Pomp. 19, 56: quod nondum bono animo in populum Romanum viderentur, Caes. B. G. 1, 6; Quint. 7, 4, 15.—
γ Bonus animus, good temper , patience : bonus animus in malā re dimidium mali est, Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 37: vos etiam hoc animo meliore feratis, Ov. M. 9, 433.—
b Bono modo.
α = placide, with composure , moderation : si quis quid deliquerit, pro noxā bono modo vindicet, Cato R. R. 5: haec tibi tam sunt defendenda quam moenia, mihi autem bono modo, tantum quantum videbitur, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 44, 137.—
β In a decent manner : neu quisquam prohibeto filium quin amet... quod bono fiat modo, Plaut. Merc. 5, 4, 62. —
c Jure optimo or optimo jure, with good , perfect right : te ipse jure optumo incuses licet, Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 23; id. Rud. 2, 6, 53: ut jure optimo me deserere posses, Cic. Fam. 3, 8, 6; Sen. Ot. Sap. 2 (29), 2.—With pass. or intr. verb , deservedly : ne jure optimo irrideamur, Cic. Off. 1, 31, 111; cf. id. ib. 1, 42, 151; id. Marcell. 1, 4; similarly, optimo judicio, Val. Max. 2, 9, 2.
II As subst.
A bŏnus , boni, m.; of persons.
1 In sing. or plur. orig. = bonus vir, boni viri; v. I. A. 1. a. β, supra, a morally good man.
α Plur. : bonis quod bene fit haud perit, Plaut. Rud. 4, 3, 2; id. Capt. 2, 2, 108; id. Trin. 2, 1, 55; id. Pers. 4, 5, 2: melius apud bonos quam apud fortunatos beneficium collocari puto, Cic. Off. 2, 20, 71: verum esse ut bonos boni diligant, quamobrem... bonis inter bonos quasi necessariam (esse) benevolentiam, id. Lael. 14, 50: diverso itinere malos a bonis loca taetra... habere, Sall. C. 52, 13; 7, 2; 52, 22: oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 52: tam bonis quam malis conduntur urbes, Sen. Ben. 4, 28, 4; so id. Vit. Beat. 15, 6; Quint. 9, 2, 76.—Rarely bŏnae , ārum, f., good women : quia omnes bonos bonasque adcurare addecet, etc., Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 41.—
β Sing. : malus bonum malum esse volt ut sit sui similis, Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 8: nec enim cuique bono mali quidquam evenire potest, Cic. Tusc. 1, 41, 99; cf.: qui meliorem audax vocet in jus, Hor. S. 2, 5, 29.—
2 Bonus, a man of honor.
α A brave man : pro quā (patriā) quis bonus dubitet mortem oppetere si ei sit profuturus? Cic. Off. 1, 17, 57: libertatem quam nemo bonus nisi cum animā simul amittat, Sall. C. 33, 5: fortes creantur fortibus et bonis, Hor. C. 4, 4, 29 (opp. ignavi): famā impari boni atque ignavi erant, Sall. J. 57, 6; 53, 8; id. C. 11, 2. —
β A gentleman : quis enim umquam, qui paululum modo bonorum consuetudinem nosset, litteras ad se ab amico missas ... in medium protulit? Cic. Phil. 2, 4, 7.—
3 Boni, the better (i. e. higher ) classes of society.
α In gen. (of political sentiments, = optimates, opp. populares, seditiosi, perditi cives, etc.; so usu. in Cic.): meam causam omnes boni proprie enixeque susceperant, Cic. Sest. 16, 38: audaces homines et perditi nutu impelluntur... boni, nescio quomodo, tardiores sunt, etc., id. ib. 47, 100: ego Kal. Jan. senatum et bonos omnes legis agrariae... metu liberavi, id. Pis. 2, 4: etenim omnes boni, quantum in ipsis fuit, Caesarem occiderunt, id. Phil. 2, 13, 29; id. Fam. 5, 2, 8; 5, 21, 2; id. Sest. 2, 5; 16, 36; 48, 103; id. Planc. 35, 86; id. Mil. 2, 5; id. Off. 2. 12, 43: maledictis increpat omnes bonos, Sall. C. 21, 4; 19, 2; 33, 3; Hirt. B. G. 8, 22; so, optimi, Cic. Leg. 3, 17, 37; and, ironically, boni identified with the rich : bonorum, id est lautorum et locupletum, id. Att. 8, 1, 3.—
β Without reference to political views; opp. vulgus (rare): nihil ego istos moror fatuos mores quibus boni dedecorant se, Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 22: semper in civitate quibus opes nullae sunt bonis invident, Sall. C. 37, 3: elatus est sine ullā pompā funeris, comitantibus omnibus bonis, maximā vulgi frequentiā, Nep. Att. 22, 2.—So, mĕlĭōres , um, m., one’s betters : ut quaestui habeant male loqui melioribus, Plaut. Poen. 3, 3, 13: da locum melioribus, Ter. Phorm. 521.—
4 Boni, bone, in addresses, as an expression of courtesy, Hor. S. 2, 2, 1; 2, 6, 51; 2, 6, 95; id. Ep. 2, 2, 37; ironice , id. S. 2, 3, 31.—
5 Optimus quisque = quivis bonus, omnes boni.
α Referring to morality: esse aliquid naturā pulcrum quod optimus quisque sequeretur, every good man , Cic. Sen. 13, 43: qui ita se gerebant ut sua consilia optimo cuique probarent, optimates habebantur, id. Sest. 45, 96; id. Off. 1, 43, 154; id. Fin. 1, 7, 24; id. Sest. 54, 115; and = even the best : quare deus optimum quemque malā valetudine adficit? Sen. Prov. 4, 8.—
β Of the educated classes: adhibenda est quaedam reverentia adversus homines, et optimi cujusque et reliquorum, Cic. Off. 1, 28, 99; cf. id. ib. 1, 25, 85: Catilina plerisque consularibus, praeterea optumo cuique, litteras mittit, Sall. C. 34, 2: optimo cuique infesta libertas, Sen. Ot. Sap. 8, 2 (32 fin. ).—
γ Honorable , brave : optumus quisque cadere et sauciari, ceteris metus augeri, Sall. J. 92, 8.—
δ In gen., excellent : optimus quisque facere quam dicere... malebat, Sall. C. 8, 5.—
ε Distributively: ita imperium semper ad optumum quemque a minus bono transfertur, to the best man in each instance , Sall. C. 2, 6.—
ζ Referring to another superlative ( = quo quisque melior eo magis, etc.): hic aditus laudis qui semper optimo cuique maxime patuit, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 1, 1; so id. Lael. 4, 14; id. Inv. 2, 11, 36; Sen. Vit. Beat. 18, 1.—
η Attributively, with a noun: optimam quamque causam, Cic. Sest. 43, 93: optima quaeque dies, Verg. G. 3, 66.