laetus, a, um, adj. [Sanscr. root prī-, to cheer; prētis, joy, love; cf. Gr. πραΰς, πρᾷος; Germ. Friede, Freude; cf. also Latin gentile name, Plaetorius], joyful, cheerful, glad, gay, joyous, rejoicing, pleased, delighted, full of joy.
I Lit., constr. absol. , with de , the gen., the inf., or acc. and inf.
α Absol. : laeti atque erecti, Cic. Font. 11, 33: alacres laetique, id. Sest. 1, 1: vultus, id. Att. 8, 9, 2: dies laetissimi, id. Lael. 3, 12.—In neutr. plur. as subst.: litterae tuae partim laeta partim tristia continent, Plin. Ep. 5, 9, 1.—
β With de : laetus est de amica, Ter. Ad. 253.—
γ With gen.: laetus animi et ingenii, Vell. 2, 93, 1; Tac. A. 2, 26: laborum, Verg. A. 11, 73: irae, Sil. 17, 308.—
δ With inf.: laetus uterque Spectari superis, Sil. 9, 453.—
ε With acc. and inf.: laetus sum, fratri obtigisse quod volt, Ter. Phorm. 820: laeta est abs te (donum) datum esse, id. Eun. 392.—
II Transf.
A Doing a thing with joy, cheerful, ready, willing : senatus supplementum etiam laetus decreverat, Sall. J. 84, 3: descendere regno, Stat. Th. 2, 396: fatebere laetus nec surdum esse, etc., Juv. 13, 248.—
B Delighting or taking pleasure in a thing; with abl. or inf.
α With abl.: et laetum equino sanguine Concanum, Hor. C. 3, 4, 34: laetus stridore catenae, Juv. 14, 23: plantaribus horti, id. 13, 123.—
β With inf.: et ferro vivere laetum Vulgus, Sil. 9, 223.—
C Pleased, satisfied with any thing; delighting in; with abl.: classis Romana haudquaquam laeta praedā rediit, Liv. 27, 31: contentus modicis, meoque laetus, Mart. 4, 77, 2.—With gen.: laeta laborum, Verg. A. 11, 73: laetissimus viae, indulging to the full , Sil. 17, 308.—
D Pleasing, pleasant , grateful : omnia erant facta hoc biduo laetiora, Cic. Att. 7, 26, 1: laetique nuntii vulgabantur, Tac. A. 1, 5: vitium laetissimi fructus, Cic. N. D. 2, 62, 156: virtus haud laeta tyranno, Val. Fl. 1, 30: militibus id nomen, Tac. H. 4, 68.—
E Favorable, propitious, prosperous : venti, Val. Fl. 4, 31: sors, id. 4, 540: bellum, Sil. 10, 552; Plaut. Am. prol. 2: saecula, Verg. A. 1, 605: exta, Suet. Caes. 77: cujus (proelii) initium ambiguum, finis laetior, Tac. A. 12, 40.—
F Fortunate, auspicious, lucky : prodigium, Plin. 11, 37, 77, § 197: augurium, Tac. H. 1, 62: laeta et congruentia exta, id. ib. 2, 4: omina, Petr. 122.—
G Joyous in appearance, delightful, pleasing, beautiful : vite quid potest esse cum fructu laetius, tum aspectu pulchrius? Cic. de Sen. 15, 53: segetes, Verg. G. 1, 1: lupae fulvo nutricis tegmine, id. A. 1, 275: ferarum exuviis, Ov. M. 1, 475: indoles, Quint. 2, 4, 4: colles frondibus laeti, Curt. 5, 4, 9.—
2 In partic., in econom. lang., fertile, rich , of soil: ager, Varr. R. R. 1, 23: laeta Clitumni pascua, Juv. 12, 13.—Of cattle, fat : glande sues laeti redeunt, Verg. G. 2, 520.—
3 Abundant, copious : laeta magis pressis manabunt flumina mammis, Verg. G. 3, 310; 3, 494: lucus laetissimus umbrae, id. A. 1, 441.—Of style, etc., rich, copious, agreeable : nitidum quoddam genus est verborum et laetum, Cic. de Or. 1, 18, 81.—Of the author: (Homerus) laetus ac pressus, Quint. 10, 1, 46.—
H Pleasant, agreeable : dicendi genus tenue laetioribus numeris corrumpere, Quint. 9, 4, 17.—In neutr. sing. , adverbially: laetumque rubet, with joy, with pleasure , Stat. Ach. 1, 323.— Hence, adv.: laetē , joyfully, gladly, cheerfully .
1 Lit. (class.): auctorem senatus exstinctum laete atque insolenter tulit, Cic. Phil. 9, 3, 7: laete an severe dicere, Quint. 8, 3, 40.— Comp. , Vell. 2, 45, 3: neque refert cujusquam Punicas Romanasve acies laetius extuleris, more eagerly , Tac. A. 4, 33: aliquid ausi laetius aut licentius, Quint. 2, 4, 14.— Sup. : laetissime gaudere, Gell. 3, 15, 2.—
2 Transf., fruitfully, abundantly, luxuriantly : seges laete virens, Plin. 33, 5, 27, § 89.— Comp. : truncus laetius frondet, more fruitfully, more luxuriantly , Col. 5, 9, 10; cf. Plin. 16, 31, 56, § 130.—
3 Lightly, not severely, without seriousness : si quis putet nos laetius fecisse quam orationis severitas exigat, Plin. Ep. 2, 5, 6.