clīvus, i, m. (plur.: clīva, ōrum, n., Cato ap. Non. p. 195, 2; Front. Limit. p. 43 Goes. dub.) [clino = κλίνω, to incline],
a gently sloping height , a declivity , slope , an ascent , a hill , eminence , ascending road (class.): quā se subducere colles Incipiunt, mollique jugum demittere clivo, Verg. E. 9, 8; cf. id. G. 3, 293; Ov. M. 11, 151; 8, 191; so Plaut. As. 3, 3, 118; Ter. Ad. 575; Caes. B. C. 3, 46; Liv. 21, 32, 8; Hor. Ep. 1, 13, 10 et saep.—As antithet. to a plain, with the epithet arduus, Ov. F. 1, 264: Clivus Capitolinus, the higher road ascending to the Capitol , a part of Sacra Via, Cic. Att. 2, 1, 7; Liv. 3, 18, 7; Plin. 19, 1, 6, § 23; called Clivus Sacer, Hor. C. 4, 2, 35; and absol. : Clivus, Tac. H. 3, 71; Petr. 44, 18.— Prov., for a great difficulty to be overcome : clivo sudamus in imo, we are but commencing our labor , Ov. H. 20, 41; cf. id. R. Am. 394; Petr. 47, 8; Sen. Ep. 31, 4; Sil. 4, 605. —Poet., for any thing sloping , a slope , unevenness : mensae, Ov. M. 8, 663.