condĭo, īvi or ĭi, ītum, 4, v. a. [an access. form from condo, q. v. II., and cf. compono, II. B. 2.] (orig. belonging to econ. lang.).
I To put fruit in vinegar, wine, spices, etc., to preserve, pickle : oleas albas, Cato R. R. 117: lactucam (corresp. with componere), Col. 12, 9, 3; 12, 7, 5: corna, pruna, id. 12, 10, 2: caules vitium in aceto et muriā, Plin. 14, 19, 23, § 119 al.—
2 Transf.
a Unguenta, to make fragrant , Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 99.—
b To embalm a dead body: mortuos (Aegyptii), Cic. Tusc. 1, 45, 108.—
II Of food, to make savory, to season, spice : cenam, Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 21: meas escas, id. ib. 3, 2, 41: fungos, helvellas, herbas omnes ita, ut nihil possit esse suavius, Cic. Fam. 7, 26, 2: jus male conditum, Hor. S. 2, 8, 69: vinum, Dig. 33, 6, 9; cf.: quis non videt, desideriis omnia ista condiri? Cic. Tusc. 5, 34, 97.—Hence,
2 As subst.: con-dītum , i, n. (sc. vinum), aromatic wine, spiced wine , Plin. 14, 16, 19, § 103; Pall. Oct. 19; id. Febr. 32; Cael. Aur. Tard. 3, 5 al.—
B Trop., to cultivate, ornament; to make pleasant or agreeable; to soften, temper , etc. (freq. in Cic.): duo sunt, quae condiant orationem: verborum numerorumque jucunditas, Cic. Or. 55, 185; cf. Quint. 12, 10, 38; and 6, 3, 40: vitia, to set off , Cic. Clu. 26, 72: hilaritate tristitiam temporum, id. Att. 12, 40, 3: gravitatem comitate, id. Sen. 4, 10; cf. id. Mur. 31, 66: aliquid natura asperum pluribus voluptatibus, Quint. 5, 14, 35: urbanitatem ambiguitate, id. 6, 3, 96.
VIII —Hence, condītus , a, um, P. a.
A (Acc. to II. A.) Seasoned, savory : conditiora facit haec supervacanei etiam operis aucupium atque venatio, Cic. Sen. 16, 56: sapor vini, Col. 12, 20, 7.—
B Trop. (acc. to II. B.), of discourse, polished, ornamented : sermo, Poët. ap. Cic. Att. 13, 52, 1: nimium condita oratio, Quint. 11, 3, 182.— Comp. : oratio lepore et festivitate conditior, Cic. de Or. 2, 56, 227; id. Brut. 29, 110. —Of the speaker: nemo suavitate conditior, Cic. Brut. 48, 177.— Sup. and adv. not in use.