currĭcŭlum, i, n. [curro], a running, course, race.
I Lit.
A In gen. (mostly ante-class.): conicere se in curriculum, Plaut. Merc. 5, 2, 91; cf.: pedes in curriculum conferre, Varr. ap. Non. p. 263, 6: facere unum curriculum, Plaut. Trin. 4, 4, 11; cf.: ita celeri curriculo fui propere a portu, id. Stich. 2, 2, 13.—
β Abl. curriculo adverb., in a quick course, at full speed, swiftly, hastily , Plaut. Ep. 1, 1, 12; id. Most. 2, 1, 15; 3, 3, 26; id. Mil. 2, 6, 43; Ter. Heaut. 733 al.—
B In partic., a running on a wager, a race : athletae se in curriculo exercentes, Cic. Sen. 9, 27; id. Leg. 2, 9, 22; id. Mur. 27, 57; Liv. 44, 9; Hor. C. 1, 1, 3; Ov. Tr. 4, 8, 36 al.: equorum, Liv. 45, 33, 5.—
II Meton.
A A race-ground, course, career . *
1 Lit.: solis et lunae, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. p. 198, 29.—Far more freq.,
2 Trop.: exiguum nobis vitae curriculum natura circumscripsit, immensum gloriae, Cic. Rab. Perd. 10, 30; cf.: vivendi a naturā datum conficere, id. Univ. 12: curricula multiplicium variorumque sermonum, id. Or. 3, 12: me ex constituto spatio defensionis in semihorae curriculum coëgisti, id. Rab. Perd. 2, 6; so, consuetudinis, id. Lael. 12, 40: laudis, Quint. 12, 2, 31: hae sunt exercitationes ingenii, haec curricula mentis, Cic. Sen. 11, 38: petitionis, id. Mur. 22, 46: omne industriae nostrae, id. Phil. 7, 3, 7; cf.: nec in quadrigis eum secundum numeraverim ... nec in oratoribus, qui tantum absit a primo, vix ut in eodem curriculo esse videatur, id. Brut. 47, 173.—
b The time of the annual circuit of the sun, a year , Prud. στεφ. 3 (al. 9), 11.—
B A race-chariot (post-Aug.), Tac. A. 14, 14; 15, 44 fin. ; * Suet. Calig. 19.—
2 For a chariot , in gen.: equi turbati in amnem praecipitavere curricula, Curt. 8, 14, 8: Mettum Fufetium equis ad curriculum ex utrāque parte deligatum distraxit, Varr. ap. Non. p. 287, 22.