făcētus, a, um, adj. [root fa- of fari; Sanscr. bhā-, shine, appear; Gr. φα- in φημί, φαίνω; strengthened făc, as in fax, facies], well-made, choice, elegant, fine.
I Lit. (very rare): nae illi sunt pedes faceti ac deliciis ingredienti molles, Brutus ap. Quint. 6, 3, 20: facetis victibus vivere, Plaut. Most. 1, 1, 43.—
II Trop.
A Of behavior, fine , courteous , polite , gentle (very rare): vir facetus atque magnificus, Plaut. Most. 2, 2, 84: mulier commoda et faceta, Ter. Heaut. 522: ut cuique est aetas, ita quemque facetus adopta, Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 55: est qui (ambulet tunicis) subductis usque facetus, i. e. who thinks to be very fine , id. S. 1, 2, 26.—
B Of speech. *
1 Elegant , fine : molle atque facetum Vergilio annuerunt gaudentes rure Camenae, Hor. S. 1, 10, 44; cf.: decoris hanc et excultae cujusdam elegantiae appellationem ( faceti ) puto, Quint. 6, 3, 20.—
2 Merry , witty , jocose , humorous , facetious (the predominant signif. of the word).
a Of persons: dulcem et facetum festivique sermonis atque in omni sermone simulatorem, quem εἴρωνα Graeci nominarunt, Socratem accepimus, Cic. Off. 1, 30, 108: elegantes, faceti, id. Brut. 16, 63: esse quamvis facetum atque salsum, id. de Or. 2, 56, 228: in altercando cum aliquo aculeo et maledicto facetus, id. Brut. 47, 173: imitatores et narratores faceti, id. de Or. 2, 54, 219: etiam quodam loco facetus esse voluisti, id. Phil. 2, 8, 20: conviva joco mordente facetus, Juv. 9, 10 et saep.—
b Of inanim. and abstr. things: duplex omnino est jocandi genus: unum illiberale, petulans, flagitiosum, obscenum, alterum elegans, urbanum, ingeniosum, facetum, Cic. Off. 1, 29, 104: ironia faceta et elegans, id. Brut. 85, 292: faceta et urbana innumerabilia, id. de Or. 2, 56, 227: sermo, id. ib. 1, 8, 32: dictum, id. ib. 2, 54, 219: joci, Just. 39, 2.— Comp. : Quo facetior videare, Lucil. ap. Fest. s. v. REDARGUISSE, p. 273, 10 Müll. — Sup. : Aristophanes facetissimus poëta veteris comoediae, Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 37: argutiae facetissimi salis, Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 117.—Hence, adv.: făcēte ,
1 (Acc. to II. A.) Finely , properly , elegantly (anteclass.): hanc ego rem exorsus sum facete et callide, Plaut. Pers. 4, 1, 7; id. Mil. 1, 1, 39; id. Stich. 1, 3, 114: facete dictum, well said! good! id. Capt. 1, 2, 73; Ter. Eun. 288; 427.—
2 (Acc. to II. B.) Wittily , pleasantly , humorously , facetiously (class.): numquam tam male est Siculis, quin aliquid facete et commode dicant, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 95: facete et urbane Stoicos ridere, id. Fin. 1, 11, 39: multa colligere ridicule ac facete, id. de Or. 1, 57, 243: praeclare et apposite et facete scripsit, Gell. 2, 23, 11: (Cicero) plura quam quisquam dixit facete, Quint. 6, 3, 4.— Comp. : nos ab isto nebulone facetius eludimur, Cic. Rosc. Am. 44, 128: disputare, id. de Or. 2, 54, 217.— Sup. : noster hic facetissime tres de jure civili libellos tribus legendos dedit, Cic. de Or. 2, 55, 223: dicere, Plin. Ep. 1, 9 fin. : ludere, id. ib. 9, 22, 2.