mājestas, ātis, f. [maior, magnus, q. v.], greatness, grandeur, dignity, majesty.
I Lit., of the gods; also the condition of men in high station, as kings, consuls, senators, knights, etc., and, in republican states, esp. freq. of the people (class.).
1 Of the gods: di non censent esse suae majestatis, praesignificare hominibus, quae sunt futura, Cic. Div. 1, 38, 82 sq.: primus est deorum cultus deos credere, deinde reddere illis majestatem suam, Sen. Ep. 95, 50: divinam majestatem asserere sibi coepit, divine majesty , Suet. Calig. 22.—
2 Of men: consulis, Cic. Pis. 11, 24: judicum, id. Rosc. Am. 19, 54: regia, Caes. B. C. 3, 106: ducis, Phaedr. 2, 5, 23: senatus, Liv. 8, 34: patria, the paternal authority , id. 8, 7, 3: inter nos sanctissima divitiarum majestas, Juv. 1, 113.— The sovereign power, sovereignty of the Roman people : majestatem populi Romani defendere, Cic. Phil. 3, 5, 13: per majestatem populi Romani subvenite misero mihi, Sall. J. 14, 25: ad tantam magnitudinem Romana majestas cunctorum numinum favore pervenit, Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 6, 4, 6: majestatem minuere or laedere, to injure or offend against the majesty, sovereignty of the people : majestatem minuere est de dignitate, aut amplitudine, aut potestate populi, aut eorum, quibus populus potestatem dedit, aliquid derogare, Cic. Inv. 2, 17, 53; Tac. A. 1, 72: populi Romani majestatem laedere, Sen. Contr. 4, 25, 13; Amm. 16, 8, 4; 19, 12, 1; 21, 12, 19 al.: crimen majestatis, high-treason; an offence against the majesty, sovereignty of the people : et crimen majestatis, quod imperii nostri gloriae, rerumque gestarum monumenta evertere atque asportare ausus est, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 41, § 88: legionem sollicitare, res est, quae lege majestatis tenetur, against treason , id. Clu. 35, 97: condemnatus majestatis, id. ib.: laesae majestatis accusari, Sen. Contr. 4, 25: majestatis causā damnatus, Dig. 48, 24, 1: majestatis judicium, ib. 2, 20: Lege Julia majestatis tenetur is, cujus ope, consilio adversus imperatorem vel rem publicam arma mota sunt, exercitusve ejus in insidias deductus est, Paul. Sent. 5, 29, 1.—As a title of honor of the Roman emperors, majesty , Phaedr. 2, 5, 23; Symm. Ep. 19, 16 et saep.—
II Transf., in gen., honor, dignity, excellence , splendor : majestas et pudor matronarum, Liv. 34, 2: rex apum nullum habeat aculeum, majestate solā armatus, Plin. 11, 17, 17, § 52: boum, i. e. fine condition, appearance , Varr R. R. 2, 5: ipsa dierum Festorum herboso colitur si quando theatro, Juv. 3, 173: templorum, id. 11, 111: Tyria majestas, the splendor of Tyrian purple , Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 79: quanta illi fuit gravitas! quanta in oratione majestas! Cic. Lael. 25, 96: loci, i. e. Jovis templi, Liv. 1, 53.