imber, bris (abl. imbri, Cic. Att. 7, 20, 1; Verg. E. 7, 60; id. A. 4, 249; Hor. S. 1, 5, 95; Lucr. 1, 715 et saep.; more freq. imbre, Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 62; Cic. de Sen. 10, 34; Liv. 21, 58, 6; Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 11; Ov. Am. 3, 6. 68; id. M. 13, 889; cf. Neue, Formenl. 1, 239 sq.), m. [kindr. to Sanscr. abhra, a cloud; cf. Lat. umbra; Gr. ὄμβρος], rain, heavy or violent rain, a rain-storm, shower of rain, pelting or pouring rain (cf.: pluvia, nimbus).
I Lit. (class.): imbres fluctusque atque procellae infensae, Plaut. Trin. 4, 1, 17: venit imber, lavit parietes, id. Most. 1, 2, 30: erat hiems summa, tempestas perfrigida, imber maximus, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 40, § 86: ita magnos et assiduos imbres habebamus, id. Att. 13, 16, 1; Lucr. 6, 107: maximo imbri Capuam veni, Cic. Att. 7, 20, 1: in imbri, in frigore, id. Verr. 2, 4, 40, § 87: iter factum corruptius imbri, Hor. S. 1, 5, 95; so, imbre lutoque Aspersus, id. Ep. 1, 11, 11: quae opera per imbrem fieri potuerint, Cato R. R. 2, 3: lapideus aut sanguineus imber, Cic. Div. 2, 28, 60; cf.: quid cum saepe lapidum, sanguinis nonnumquam, terrae interdum, quondam etiam lactis imber defluxit? id. ib. 1, 43, 98: imbri lapidavit, Liv. 43, 13: tamquam lapides effuderit imber, Juv. 13, 67.—
2 Prov.
a Imbrem in cribrum gerere, i. e. to attempt an impossibility , Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 100.—
b Tam hoc tibi in proclivi est quam imber est quando pluit, i. e. exceedingly easy , Plaut. Capt. 2, 2, 86.—
II Transf., in gen.
A A rain-cloud , stormcloud : caeruleus supra caput astitit imber, Verg. A. 3, 194; 5, 10: grandinis imbres, hail-storms , Lucr. 6, 107.—
B Rain-water : piscinae cisternaeque servandis imbribus, Tac. H. 5, 12.—
C Water or liquid in gen. (poet.): cui par imber et ignis, Enn. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 37 Müll. (Ann. v. 511 Vahl.); so of water as an element: ex igni, terra atque anima procrescere et imbri, Lucr. 1, 715: ut ferrum Stridit, ubi in gelidum propere demersimus imbrem, id. 6, 149: calidi, Ov. Am. 2, 15, 23: ratibusque fremebat Imber Neptuni, i. e. the sea , Enn. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 11, 299 (Ann. v. 490 Vahl.); so of the sea , Verg. A. 1, 123; Ov. H. 18, 104; Val. Fl. 4, 665: amicos irriget imbres, Verg. G. 4, 115: imbre per indignas usque cadente genas, a shower of tears , Ov. Tr. 1, 3, 18: sanguineus, stream of blood , Stat. Th. 1, 437; cf.: cruentus, Luc. 6, 224: nectaris, Claud. Nupt. Hon. 101.—
D Like the Engl. word shower , of things that fall like rain: ferreus ingruit imber, Verg. A. 12, 284; cf.: quo pacto Danaae misisse aiunt quondam in gremium imbrem aureum, Ter. Eun. 585.