magnĭtūdo, ĭnis, f. [magnus], greatness, size, bulk, magnitude (class.).
I Lit.
A Silvestres apes minores sunt magnitudine, in size , Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 19: mundi, Cic. Off. 1, 43, 154: maris Aegaei, id. Fin. 3, 14, 45: fluminis, Caes. B. C. 1, 49: corporum, id. B. G. 1, 39: ad fabae magnitudinem, of the size of, as large as , Cels. 5, 25, 4: habebat ursos ferociae ac magnitudini suae simillimos, Lact. Mort. Pers. 21, 5: Goliath quidam, vir mirae magnitudinis et roboris, Sulp. Sev. Chron. 1, 34, 3: elephantus ferus infinitae magnitudinis ultro se obtulit, Just. 15, 4, 19.— Plur. : magnitudines regionum, Cic. Phil. 13, 3, 5.—
B Of number and amount, a great number, great quantity, abundance, great amount : copiarum, Nep. Dat. 1: fructuum, Cic. Agr. 2, 35, 95: pecuniae, id. Rosc. Am. 7, 20: quaestus, id. Verr. 2, 5, 9, § 22.—
II Trop.
A In gen., greatness, vastness, extent : magnitudo et vis amoris, Cic. Fam. 2, 7, 2: acerbitatis et odii, id. Deiot. 11, 30: beneficii, id. Fam. 1, 7, 2: periculi, id. Quint. 2, 6: doloris, Plin. 25, 3, 7, § 24: ingenii, id. 25, 2, 3, § 7: animi, greatness of soul , Cic. Part. 23, 81.— Rhetorically: vocis, the strength or compass of the voice , Auct. Her. 3, 11, 20.— Of time: dierum ac noctium magnitudines, length , Plin. 36, 10, 15, § 72.—
B In partic., rank, dignity (post-Aug.): imperatoria, Tac. A. 16, 23: infra tuam magnitudinem, beneath your dignity , id. ib. 14, 54. —Hence, in late Lat., as a title of honor, highness, excellency : magnitudo tua, Cassiod. Var. 9, 13; Cod. Just. 1, 27, 2.