mŏdŭlor, ātus, 1, v. dep. [modulus], to measure off properly, to measure; to manage properly, to regulate.
I In gen. (only post-Aug.): in modulanda statūs longitudinisque ejus praestantiā, Gell. 1, 1, 1; cf.: quanta longinquitas corporis ei mensurae conveniret, modificatus est, id. ib. fin. : ita modulante naturā, Plin. 2, 54, 55, § 142.—
II In partic., of singing, speaking, dancing, etc., to measure rhythmically; to modulate; hence, transf., to dance, to represent by dancing; to sing, to play (class.): ipsa natura, quasi modularetur hominum orationem, in omni verbo posuit acutam vocem, Cic. Or. 18, 58; cf.: hominum aures vocem naturā modulantur, modulate , id. de Or. 3, 48, 185: insulae, Saliares dictae, quoniam in symphoniae cantu ad ictus modulantium pedum moventur, Plin. 2, 95, 96, § 209.—
B Transf.: virgines sonum vocis pulsu pedum modulantes incesserunt, beating time to, accompanying with the dance , Liv. 27, 37 fin. : (carmina) pastoris Siculi modulabor avenā, Verg. E. 10, 51: carmina descripsi, et modulans alterna notavi, id. ib. 5, 14: verba fidibus modulanda Latinis, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 143: lyram, Tib. 3, 4, 39
IV —Hence, mŏdŭlātus , a, um, Part. and P. a., in pass. signif.
A Played upon, made by playing, played .
1 Of an instrument: dic Latinum, Barbite, carmen Lesbio primum modulate civi, Hor. C. 1, 32, 5.—
2 Of a song, tune, etc., sung : carmina, Suet. Aug. 57: a canticis ad aliorum similitudinem modulatis, Quint. 9, 2, 35.—
B Properly measured, in due measure, in time, melodious, musical (poet. and in postAug. prose): ipso modulata dolore Verba fundebat, Ov. M. 14, 428: sonus, Plin. 10, 29, 43, § 81; § 85.— Comp. : ut moderatiores modulatioresque fierent animi, more harmonious , Gell. 1, 11, 1: lingua, id. 1, 15, 14: orationem modulatiorem aptioremque reddit, id. 13, 24, 9.— Sup. : modulatissimus cantus, Flor. 2, 7, 15.—Hence, adv.: mŏ-dŭlātē , measuredly, according to measure, in time, melodiously : modulate canentes tibiae, * Cic. N. D. 2, 8, 22: haec tu quam perite, quam concinne, quam modulate enuntiāsti, Aus. Ep. 19.— Comp. : ars modulatius incedendi, Amm. 16, 5, 10: verba modulatius collocata, Gell. 11, 13, 2.