grex, grĕgis, m. (fem., Lucil. ap. Charis. p. 72 P.; Lucr. 2, 662; Inscr. ap. Maff. Mus. Veron. 127, 4) [Sanscr. root jar-, come together; Gr. ἀγείρω, ἀγορά], a flock, herd, drove, swarm (cf.: armentum, jumentum, pecus).
I Lit., of animals: pecudes dispulsae sui generis sequuntur greges, Cic. Att. 7, 7, 7; cf.: greges armentorum reliquique pecoris, id. Phil. 3, 12, 31: nobilissimarum equarum, id. Verr. 2, 2, 7, § 20: asinorum, Varr. R. R. 2, 6, 2: lanigeri, Verg. G. 3, 287: vir gregis ipse caper, id. E. 7, 7; cf.: dux gregis, i. e. a bull , Ov. A. A. 1, 326: elephantorum, Plin. 5, 1, 1, § 5: porcorum, Juv. 2, 80: pavonum, Varr. R. R. 3, 6, 2: anserum, id. ib. 3, 10, 1: anatum, id. ib. 3, 11, 1: avium, Hor. Ep. 1, 3, 19.—Opp. to armenta, of small cattle: non ego sum pastor, non hic armenta gregesve, Ov. M. 1, 513; 4, 635; Tib. 1, 5, 28.—Prov.: grex totus in agris Unius scabie cadit, Juv. 2, 79. —
II Transf.
A Of a number of persons, in a good or bad sense, a company , society , troop , band , crowd.
1 In gen.: in hunc igitur gregem P. Sullam ex his honestissimorum hominum gregibus reicietis? Cic. Sull. 28, 77: amicorum, id. Att. 1, 18, 1; cf.: scribe tui gregis hunc, i. e. receive him into the number of your friends , Hor. Ep. 1, 9, 13: philosophorum, Cic. de Or. 1, 10, 42: ille virorum (of the Fabians), Sil. 7, 58: Cethegus libertos suos orabat, uti grege facto cum telis ad se irrumperent, i. e. in a body , Sall. C. 50, 2; id. J. 58, 3: quos respexit rex grege facto venientes, Liv. 8, 24, 13: ne servi quidem uno grege profugiunt dominos, i. e. all together , Curt. 10, 2, 12: ego forsitan propter multitudinem patronorum in grege annumerer, Cic. Rosc. Am. 32, 89: Epicuri de grege porcus, Hor. Ep. 1, 4, 16: grex contaminatus turpium virorum, id. C. 1, 37, 9: venalium, Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 67: indocilis, Hor. Epod. 16, 37: cum populum gregibus comitum premit spoliator, Juv. 1, 46.—
2 In partic., of players or charioteers, a company , troop , band : si voltis adplaudere hunc gregem et fabulam, Plaut. Ps. 5, 2, 33; id. Cas. prol. 22; Ter. Heaut. 45; id. Phorm. 32; Petr. 80; Inscr. Grut. 1024, 5; Inscr. ap. Marin. Frat. Arv. p. 257.—
B Of things (very rare): virgarum, a bundle of rods , Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 99.