discrīmen, ĭnis, n. [contr. from discerimen à discerno; cf. crimen from cerno], lit., that which separates or divides two things from each other (for syn. cf.: differentia, discrepantia, diversitas, distantia); hence,
I Lit., an intervening space, interval, distance, division, separation : cum (duo maria) pertenui discrimine separarentur, Cic. Agr. 2, 32, 87: minimum quos inter et hostem Discrimen murus clausaque porta facit, Ov. P. 1, 8, 62: aequo discrimine, Lucr. 5, 690; Verg. A. 5, 154: parvum leti, Ov. M. 7, 426; Verg. A. 9, 143: dare discrimina costis, i. e. to separate them , id. ib. 10, 382: quae (sc. littera F) inter discrimina dentium efflanda est, Quint. 12, 10, 29: agminum, Curt. 4, 12 fin. : ungulae, Col. 6, 15 fin. : comae, Ov. A. A. 2, 302; and in like manner poet.: telluris pectitae, i. e. furrow , Col. poët. 10, 94; Claud. Nupt. Honor. 103: medium luci, Grat. Cyneg. 486.—Hence, med. t. t., the dividing membrane, the midriff, diaphragm , Cael. Aur. Tard. 2, 11, 127; 5, 10, 124 al.—
II Trop. (so most frequent).
A In gen., a distinction, difference : amabat omnes, nam discrimen non facit, Lucil. ap. Non. 282, 27: iste, qui omnia jura pretio exaequasset omniumque rerum delectum atque discrimen pecunia sustulisset, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 50, 123; cf.: officia tollebantur delectu omni et discrimine remoto, id. Fin. 4, 25, 69: sit hoc discrimen inter gratiosos cives atque fortes, ut illi, etc., id. Balb. 21 fin. : sine ullo sexus discrimine, Suet. Calig. 8; cf.: rapti per agros viatores sine discrimine liberi servique, id. Aug. 32: omisso sui alicuique discrimine, Liv. 5, 55: divinarum humanarumque rerum, id. 5, 40: recti pravique, Quint. 12, 3, 7: vocum, id. 1, 5, 25; cf. so of the different tones of the strings: septem discrimina vocum, Verg. A. 6, 646 et saep.—Poet.: tenues parvi discriminis umbrae, i. e. of easy gradation , Ov. M. 6, 62. —
B In partic.
1 With respect to disputed matters, which are to be distinguished between, and thus decided upon, the decisive point, turning-point, critical moment, determination, decision : quoniam res in id discrimen adducta est, utrum ille poenas rei publicae luat, an nos serviamus, to this point , Cic. Phil. 3, 11, 29; cf.: ea res nunc in discrimine versatur, utrum ... an, etc., id. Quint. 30, 92; Liv. 29, 17: vicit disciplina militaris, vicit imperii majestas, quae in discrimine fuerunt, an ulla post hanc diem essent, id. 8, 35, 4: haec et his similia haud in magno equidem ponam discrimine, shall not regard as of great moment , id. praef. § 8: postquam adesse discrimen ultimum belli animadvertit, id. 44, 23: instant enim (adversarii) et saepe discrimen omne committunt, abandon the most decisive points , Quint. 6, 4, 17 et saep.—Poet.: experiar, deus hic, discrimine aperto, An sit mortalis, the test , Ov. M. 1, 222.—
2 Transf., a dangerous, decisive moment, crisis, dangerous condition; risk, danger, hazard : in ipso discrimine periculi aliquem destituere, Liv. 6, 17; so, periculi, id. 8, 24: in summo rem esse discrimine, * Caes. B. G. 6, 38, 2; cf.: adducta est res in maximum periculum et extremum pene discrimen, Cic. Phil. 7, 1: salus sociorum summum in periculum ac discrimen vocatur, id. de Imp. Pomp. 5, 12: in extremo discrimine ac dimicatione fortunae, id. Sull. 28: in veteris fortunae discrimen adducitur, id. Mur. 27, 55; cf.: aliquem in discrimen capitis adducere, id. Deiot. 1, 2; so, capitis, Quint. 11, 1, 49: si ei subito sit allatum periculum discrimenque patriae, Cic. Off. 1, 43, 154: rem publicam in discrimen committere, Liv. 8, 32; 33, 7; cf.: fuitque dies illa tenebrarum et discriminis, Vulg. Esth. 11, 8.