messis, is (acc. sing. messim, Cato R. R. 134; Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 5; id. Ep. 5, 2, 53; Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 6; v. Neue, Formenl. 1, p. 200), f. (masc.: non magno messe, Lucil. ap. Non. 213 fin.) [2. meto], a reaping and ingathering of the fruits of the earth, a harvest (class.).
I Lit.: messis proprio nomine dicitur in iis, quae metuntur, maxime in frumento, Varr. R. R. 1, 50, 1; Quint. 5, 9, 5; 8, 3, 8; Cic. de Or. 1, 58, 249; Verg. G. 1, 219 al.: seges matura messi, Liv. 2, 5: messem hordaceam facere, aream in messem creta praeparare, to get in the harvest , Plin. 18, 30, 71, § 295: messe amissā, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 54, § 125: messis feria, Cod. 3, 10, 2.—Of the gathering of honey, Verg. G. 4, 231.—
B Transf., concr., harvest.
1 The harvested crops, the harvest : illius immensae ruperunt horrea messes, Verg. G. 1, 49; id. ib. 1, 314; id. E. 8, 99; Just. 24, 7, 6: Cilicum et Arabum, the harvest of the Arabians , i. e. saffron and frankincense , Stat. S. 3, 3, 34: bellatura, the men that sprang from the dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus , Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 321. —
2 The crops that are to be harvested, the standing crops, the harvest : messium incensores, vel vinearum olivarumve, Paul. Sent. 5, 20, 5: messes suas urere, prov., like vineta sua caedere, i. e. to destroy one's own work (e. g. one's own pupils), Tib. 1, 2, 98: adhuc tua messis in herba est, your wheat is still in the blade , i. e. you are premature in your expectations , Ov. H. 17, 263.—
3 The time of harvest, harvest-time : si frigus erit, si messis, Verg. E. 5, 70.—Poet. transf. for a year : sexagesima messis, Mart. 4, 79, 1. —
II Trop.: pro benefactis mali messem metere, to receive evil for good, to reap ingratitude , Plaut. Ep. 5, 2, 53: uberem messem mali, id. Rud. 3, 2, 23: (morum malorum) metere messem maxumam, id. Trin. 1, 1, 11: si attigeris ostium, jam tibi hercle in ore fiet messis mergis pugneis, id. Rud. 3, 4, 58: Sullani temporis messem, the harvest of the time of Sylla , when so many were killed, Cic. Par. 6, 2, 46; (in eccl. Lat.) the time for winning souls to the truth : transiit messis, finita est aestas, et nos salvati non sumus, Vulg. Jer. 8, 20.—Of the persons to be gathered into the church : messis quidem multa, Vulg. Luc. 10, 2; cf. id. Johan. 4, 35. —Of the end of the world : sinite utraque crescere usque ad messem, Vulg. Matt. 13, 30; cf. v. 39.