mŏdĭcus, a, um, adj. [modus], having or keeping a proper measure, moderate (cf. mediocris); esp. in behavior, modest, temperate; also, of size, moderate-sized; middling, ordinary, mean, bad (class.; syn.: moderatus, mediocris).
I In a good sense: modico gradu ire, Plaut. Poen. 3, 1, 19: potiones, Cic. Div. 1, 51, 115: convivia, id. Sen. 13, 44: severitas, id. ib. 18, 65: industrios, supplices, modicos esse, Sall. J. 85, 1: domi modicus, id. ib. 63, 2: modicum quoddam corpus (historiae), a book of a tolerable size , Cic. Fam. 5, 12, 4: amant (mala) modicas rigationes, gentle, moderate , Pall. 3, 25, 14.—
II In a disparaging sense, middling, ordinary, mean, scanty, small , etc.: genus dicendi subtile in probando, modicum in delectando, Cic. Or. 21, 69: oculi, middling-sized , Plin. 11, 37, 53, § 141: ea, valde et modica, et illustria sunt, few in number , Cic. de Or. 2, 32, 137: Graecis hoc modicum est, not frequent , id. Fin. 2, 19, 62: pecunia, little, scanty , id. Par. 6, 2, 47: acervus, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 190: incrementa, small , Just. 7, 1: tempus, short , Quint. 1, 2, 12: rem pateris modicam, a trifling affliction , Juv. 13, 143: modici amici, humble, poor , id. 5, 108.—With gen.: Sabinus modicus originis, Tac. A. 6, 39: virium, Vell. 1, 12, 4: pecuniae, Tac. A. 3, 72: voluptatum, id. ib. 2, 73. —As subst.: mŏdĭcum , i, n. (sc. spatium), a little way : modicum progredi, a little , Ap. Met. 6, 19, 1; modico contentus. Juv. 9, 9.—Also, in abl., modico adverbially: modico deinde regressa, i. e. after a short time , Ap. Met. 1, 22, 14; modico prius, quam Larissam accederem, a short time before , id. ib. 1, 7, 19; modico secus progredi, to go a little farther , id. ib. 1, 22, 2.—Hence, adv.: mŏdĭcē , with moderation, moderately; modestly; in a proper manner; also, in an ordinary manner, meanly, poorly (class.).
1 Modice hoc faciam, Cic. Fam. 4, 4, 4: dolorem modice ferre, quietly, calmly , id. Tusc. 1, 46, 111; id. Phil. 11, 3, 7: se recipere, quietly, in good order , Liv. 28, 15: verecunde et modice, Enn. ap. Non. 342, 23 (Trag. v. 241 Vahl.): modice et modeste vitam vivere, Plaut. Pers. 3, 1, 18: dicere, Cic. Sull. 29, 80: modice et scienter uti re aliquā, id. de Or. 1, 29, 132.—
2 Slightly, not very, not much : minae Clodii modice me tangunt, Cic. Att. 2, 19, 1: modice vinosus, Liv. 41, 4: locuples, id. 38, 14, 9: modice instratus torus, slightly, meanly, scantily , Suet. Aug. 73.