congĭārĭus, a, um, adj. [congius], pertaining to a congius, holding a congius.
I As adj. rare: vinum, given by measure , Cato ap. Fronto Ep. ad Antonin. 1, 2, p. 149 Mai: cadi, Varr. ap. Plin. 14, 14, 17, § 96.—But very freq. subst.,
II congĭārĭum , ii, n.
A (Sc. vas.) A vessel that holds a congius, Dig. 33, 7, 13; cf. Isid. Orig. 16, 26, 7.—
B (Sc. donum.) A gift divided among the people of the measure of a congius; cf. Quint. 6, 3, 52. Orig. this present was in food; as in oil, Liv. 25, 2, 8 (v. congius); in salt, Plin. 31, 7, 41, § 89; in wine, id. 14, 14, 17, § 96. Afterwards congiarium was also used for a largess in money of undefined amount; divided among the soldiers , Cic. Att. 16, 8, 2; 10, 7, 3; id. Phil. 2, 45, 116; Curt. 6, 2, 10; among the people , Monum. Ancyr. 3, 10 sq.; Suet. Aug. 41 sq.; id. Tib. 20; 54; id. Calig. 17; id. Claud. 21; Plin. Pan. 51 fin. , in which sense post-Aug. authors contrast it with the donativum of the soldiers, Suet. Ner. 7; Plin. Pan. 25, 2; Tac. A. 12, 41; 14, 11; or among private friends , Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 1, 4; Sen. Brev. Vit. 8, 2; id. Ben. 2, 16, 2; Quint. l. l.; Suet. Caes. 27; id. Vesp. 18; id. Rhet. 5; cf. Dict. of Antiq.: in hunc maxime quod multa congiaria habuerat, favor populi se inclinabat, because he had made many distributions , Liv. 37, 57, 11 (v. Drak. ad h. l.); so Tac. Or. 17.—
2 Transf., in gen., a gift, present , Sen. Cons. ad Marc. 22, 4; cf. id. Tranq. 7, 2.