lētum (sometimes written lēthum, from a supposed connection with λήθη), i, n. [acc. to Varr. L. L. 7, § 42 Müll., and Paul. ex Fest. p. 115 Müll., from λήθη; more prob. acc. to Prisc. p. 665 and 898 P., from leo, whence also deleo; root lī-; cf. Sanscr. vi-lī, to dissolve; Gr. λίμνη, λιμήν, λοιμός].
I death (ante-class., and in the class. period mostly poet.): ollus apparet in funeribus indictivis, cum dicitur: ollus leto datus est (qs. was given up to oblivion ), Varr. L. L. 7, § 42 Müll.—The phrase leto datus, dead : leto dare, to kill , often occurs: sos leto datos divos habento, Cic. Leg. 2, 9, 22: quorum liberi leto dati sunt in bello, Enn. ap. Non. 15, 13 (Trag. v. 378 Vahl.): qui te leto dabit, Pac. ib. 355, 18 (Trag. Rel. p. 79 Rib.); Verg. A. 5, 806; 11, 172; 12, 328; Ov. H. 2, 147: utrumque largus leto dedit ingenii fons, Juv. 10, 119; Phaedr. 1, 21, 9; 3, 16, 18: letum inimico deprecer, Enn. ap. Gell. 6, 16, 10 (Trag. v. 162 Vahl.): emortuus leto malo, Plaut. Aul. 4, 5, 1: letum sibi consciscere, id. Mil. 4, 6, 26: responde, quo leto censes ut peream, id. Merc. 2, 4, 15: leto offerre caput, Lucr. 3, 1041: mortis letique potitus, id. 4, 766: eodem sibi leto, quo ipse interisset, esse pereundum, Cic. Div. 1, 26, 56: turpi leto perire, id. Att. 10, 10, 5: ferre (alicui), Verg. A. 11, 872: leto sternendus, id. ib. 8, 566: sibi parere manu, id. ib. 6, 434: ostentant omnia letum, Cat. 64, 187: leto jam mala finissem, Tib. 2, 6, 19: leto adimere aliquem, to save from death , Hor. C. 3, 22, 3: leto se eripere, Verg. A. 2, 134: pari leto affici, Nep. Reg. 3, 2: me pessimo leto adficere, Liv. 22, 53, 11: novo genere leti mergi, id. 1, 51, 9; 2, 40, 10: oppetere, id. 45, 26.—
B Personified: consanguineus Leti Sopor, Verg. A. 6, 278. —
II Transf., of inanim, subjects, ruin, destruction (poet. for interitus): tenues Teucrum res eripe leto, Verg. A. 5, 690; cf.: tum me, Juppiter Optime Maxime, domum, familiam remque meam pessimo leto afficias, Liv. 12, 53, 11.