dīrĭtas, ātis, f. [dirus] (rare but class.), lit. fearfulness, viz.,
I Of fate, fatal mischief, misfortune : si qua invecta diritas casu foret, Cic. Poët. Tusc. 3, 14: totius diei, Suet. Ner. 8; cf. ominis, Gell. 4, 9, 10.—
II Of character, fierceness, cruelty : omni diritate atque immanitate teterrimus, Cic. Vatin. 3 fin. : quanta in altero diritas, in altero comitas! id. de Sen. 18, 65: morum (Tiberii), Suet. Tib. 21.