ĕquester, tris, tre (m. equestris, Liv. 27, 1, 11; Verg. A. 5, 667 al.; v. Zumpt, Gram. § 100, A. 1.; like acris, celebris, celeris, etc.), adj. [eques], belonging to a horseman, equestrian.
I In gen. (very rare): equestres statuae inauratae, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 61, 150; id. Phil. 6, 5; 9, 6; Suet. Tit. 2: equi, riding - horses , Vulg. 3 Reg. 4, 26.—Far more freq.,
II In partic.
A Of or belonging to cavalry : proelium, Caes. B. G. 1, 18 fin. ; 1, 48, 4; 2, 8, 2 et saep. (cf.: equestris pugna, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 55): tumultus, Liv. 27, 1, 11: terror, id. 27, 42: procella, id. 10, 5: copiae (opp. pedestres), Cic. Fin. 2, 34, 112: arma, Liv. 35, 23; cf. scuta, id. 43, 6: militia, Suet. Claud. 25 et saep. So as an epithet of Fortuna, Liv. 40, 40.—
B Belonging to the order of knights , equestrian : ordo, Cic. Planc. 35, 87; Suet. Aug. 100 et saep.; cf.: equestri loco natus, ortus, etc., Cic. Rep. 1, 6; id. Agr. 1, 9 fin. : equestri genere natus, Vell. 2, 88: census, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 2, 2, § 6; Liv. 5, 7; Suet. Caes. 33; Hor. A. P. 383: anulus (i. e. aureus, a privilege of the equestrian order), Hor. S. 2, 7, 53; cf. Plin. 33, 1, 8, § 32: statuae, id. 34, 5, 10, § 19 sq.: dignitas, Nep. Att. 1; Suet. Claud. 24: familia, id. Caes. 1 et saep. —
2 Subst.
a equester = eques, Tac. A. 12, 60; 13, 10 fin.—Plur. : apud equestres, id. ib. 12, 60.—
b equestria , ium, n. (sc. loca), the seats of the knights in the theatre , Petr. 126, 10; Sen. Ben. 7, 12; Suet. Calig. 26.