mactus, a, um, adj. [root μακ, in μάκαρ, blessed; cf. μακρός].
I In relig. lang., of the gods, glorified, worshipped, honored, adored (only in the voc. macte, and rarely in the nom.): Juppiter te bonas preces precor, uti sies volens propitius mihi liberisque meis, mactus hoc fercto. Jove pater, macte vino inferio esto, Cato R. R. 134, 2 and 3; cf. id. ib. 132, 2; for which: mactus hoc vino inferio esto, Arn. 7, 296: macte hoc porco piaculo immolando esto, Cato R. R. 139 fin. : macte hisce suovitaurilibus lactentibus immolandis esto, id. ib. 141, 3 sq.: macte hac dape esto, id. ib. 132.—
II Transf., beyond the relig. sphere, with or without esto, as an exclamation of applause or congratulation: macte, macte virtute (esto), macti virtute este, etc.; and as a standing formula, macte, even with acc. (v. infra), Engl. good luck! hail to thee! etc.; in responses, bravo! well done! that's right! go on! tantumne ab re tua est oti tibi, ut etiam Oratorem legas? Macte virtute! increase in, go on in , Cic. Att. 12, 6, 2; id. Tusc. 1, 17, 40: macte virtute esto sanguinolentis et ex acie redeuntibus dicitur, Sen. Ep. 66 fin. : macte virtute esto, Hor. S. 1, 2, 31: macte novā virtute, puer; sic itur ad astra! Verg. A. 9, 641: macte virtute diligentiāque esto, Liv. 10, 40: macte virtute simulque his versibus esto, Lucil. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 9, 641: macte animo, Stat. Th. 7, 280; cf.: macte bonis animi, id. S. 1, 3, 106: macte toris, id. ib. 1, 2, 201: macte hac gloriā, Plin. Pan. 46: macte uterque ingenti in rempublicam merito, id. ib. 89: macte esto taedis, o Hymenaee, tuis, Mart. 4, 13, 2.—In plur.: macti virtute milites Romani este, Liv. 7, 36, 5: macti ingenio este, Plin. 2, 12, 9, § 54: vos macti virtute estote, Curt. 4, 1, 18: juberem macte virtute esse, si pro meā patriā ista virtus staret, Liv. 2, 12, 14.—With acc.: macte fortissimam et meo judicio beatissimam in ipsis malis civitatem! Flor. 2, 18, 16.—
β With gen. (poet.): macte animi, Mart. 12, 6, 7; Stat. S. 5, 1, 37; id. Th. 2, 495.—With abl.: macte animo, juvenis, Stat. Th. 7, 280.—
γ Absol. : Macte! that's right! well done! good! Cic. Att. 15, 29 fin.