lī̆quĭdus, a, um (the first syll. usually short; long in Lucr. 1, 349; 3, 427; while in the line id. 4, 1259 it is used both as long and short; v. infra), adj. [liqueo], flowing, fluid, liquid.
I Lit.: aqua bona et liquida, Cato R. R. 73: crassaque conveniant liquidis et liquida crassis, Lucr. 4, 1259: liquida moles, the sea , id. 6, 405: iter, a voyage , Prop. 3, 20 (4, 21), 14: palaestra (because there liquid unguents were used), Luc. 9, 661: odores, liquid unguents , Hor. C. 1, 5, 2: sorores, fountain-nymphs , Ov. M. 1, 704: venter, loose , Cels. 2, 8: alvus, watery, loose , id. 2, 6.—Subst.: lī̆quĭdum , i, n., a liquid, water : tibi si sit opus liquidi non amplius urna, Hor. S. 1, 1, 54: cum liquido mixtā polentā, Ov. M. 5, 454.—
B Transf., clear, bright, transparent, limpid, pure : lumen, Lucr. 5, 281: fontes, Verg. E. 2, 59: ignis, id. ib. 6, 33: aër, id. G. 1, 404: aether, id. A. 7, 65; Hor. C. 2, 20, 2: Baiae, id. ib. 3, 4, 24: color, id. ib. 4, 8, 7: liquidior lux, Curt. 7, 11, 22: liquidissima caeli tempestas, Lucr. 4, 168: nox, Verg. A. 10, 272: aestas, id. G. 4, 59: iter, serene way (through the air), id. A. 5, 217.—
2 Esp. of sounds.
α Of the voice: vox, a clear voice or song : variae volucres liquidis loca vocibus opplent, Lucr. 2, 146; Verg. G. 1, 410: cui liquidam pater Vocem cum cithara dedit, Hor. C. 1, 24, 3: carmen citharae, Lucr. 4, 981.—
β Liquidae consonantes, the liquids , i. e. the letters l, m, n, r , Prisc. 1, 2, 11; 2, 2, 13: liquidae dictae sunt (litterae) quia liquescunt in metro aliquoties et pereunt, Cledon. p. 1882 P. al.; cf. liquesco, I. B. 2.—
II Trop.
A Flowing, continuing without interruption : genus sermonis, Cic. de Or. 2, 38, 159.—
B Clear, calm, serene, peaceful : tam liquidus est, quam liquida esse tempestas solet, Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 64: animo liquido et tranquillo es, id. Ep. 5, 1, 36: liquido's animo, id. Ps. 1, 3, 3: mens, Cat. 63, 46: somnus, Val. Fl. 4, 16.—
C Unmixed, unadulterated : ut quicquid inde haurias, purum liquidumque te haurire sentias, Cic. Caecin. 27, 78: voluptas liquida puraque, Lucr. 3, 40; cf.: voluptas et libera, Cic. Fin. 1, 18, 58.—
D Clear, evident, certain : auspicium, Plaut. Ps. 2, 4, 72.
XI —Hence, lī̆quĭdum , i, n., clearness, certainty : redigere aliquid ad liquidum, Sen. Ep. 71, 32: ad liquidum confessumque perducere aliquid, Quint. 5, 14, 28: res ad liquidum ratione perducta, Vell. 1, 16, 1.—Hence, adv., in two forms: lĭ-quĭdō and lĭquĭdē , clearly .
1 Lit.: caelum liquide serenum, Gell. 2, 21, 2.— Comp. : liquidius audiunt talpae, Plin. 10, 69, 88, § 191.—
2 Clearly, plainly, evidently, certainly : aliquid liquido audire, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 59, § 136; so, confirmare, id. ib. 2, 4, 56, § 124: negare, id. Fam. 11, 27, 7: si liquido appareat, Dig. 44, 5, 1: si liquido constiterit, ib. 29, 4, 4.—In the form liquide: consistere, Gell. 14, 1, 7.— Comp. : liquidius judicare, Cic. Fam. 10, 10, 1: liquidius facere, id. Fin. 2, 12, 38: aliquid liquidius absolvere, Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 20.— Sup. : liquidissime atque invictissime defendere, Aug. Ep. 28 fin.