mōmentum, i, n. [for movimentum, from moveo], a movement, motion (as an indwelling force; cf.: motio, motus; class.).
I Lit.: astra forma ipsa figuraque sua momenta sustentant, Cic. N. D. 2, 46, 117: pisces levi caudae in utrumque momento velocitatem suam flectunt, Sen. Ep. 90, 24: utque leves tactus momentaque parva sequantur, Ov. M. 4, 180.—
II Transf.
A An alteration, change, disturbance, movement, revolution : cetera populi Romani vectigalia, perlevi saepe momento fortunae, inclinatione temporis pendere, Cic. Agr. 2, 29, 80: nullum momentum annonae facere, to effect no alteration in the price of corn , Liv. 4, 12: animi, id. 39, 5: provincias magnis momentis concusserat, Vell. 2, 78, 1: sine momento rerum, partisque ruinā cadere, Luc. 7, 118.—
B A particle sufficient to turn the scales : momentum staterae, Vulg. Isa. 40, 15; id. Sap. 11, 23; hence, a particle, a part, a point : myrrhae momentum, Plin. 30, 10, 27, § 87: quibus (regnis) pro ignobili momento erat accessura Macedonia, a make-weight , Just. 7, 3, 1: sol cotidie ex alio caeli momento, quam pridie, oritur, a point, part , Plin. 18, 34, 77, § 333: corpus orationis in parva momenta diducendo consumere, Quint. 3, 11, 23; to lose the main subject in minute divisions : ordo rerum tribus momentis consertus est, id. 5, 10, 71: officiorum, parts , Cic. Mur. 2, 3. —
b In partic.
α Of time, a short time, brief space, moment (syn. punctum): parvis momentis multa natura affingit, instants, moments , Cic. Div. 1, 52, 118: momentis certis dimensis, at certain fixed times , Plin. Ep. 4, 30, 3: non cunctandum ratus Hannibal, totis viribus adgressus urbem momento cepit, Liv. 21, 14, 3: momento temporis, in a moment , id. 21, 33; 35, 11, 13: momento horae, in quick lapse of time , Hor. S. 1, 1, 7; cf.: momento unius horae, Curt. 9, 6, 21: horae momento, Liv. 5, 7, 3; 9, 16: Maecenati triennio supremo nullo horae momento contigit somnus, could not sleep a single hour , Plin. 7, 51, 52, § 172: brevi horarum momento, in a few hours , Just. 2, 14, 9: ut momentum horae pereat, that a short hour be lost , Phaedr. 3 prol. 5: momento fit cinis diu silva, in a moment , Sen. Q. N. 3, 27, 3: in momento, in ictu oculi, Vulg. 1 Cor. 15, 52: in momento indignationis, id. Isa. 54, 8: pruna stomacho non utilissima, sed brevi momento, are hurtful, but only for a short time , Plin. 23, 7, 66, § 132: quantum quoquo momento temporis adiciatur, Gai. Inst. 2, 70: hoc fit dicis gratia uno momento, id. ib. 1, 141.—
β Transf., of space, distance, a little way : parvo momento antecedere, Caes. B. C. 2, 6: visūs nostri tarditas non subsequitur momenta currentis (sc. stellae), sed videt simul et unde exsilierit et quo pervenerit, does not trace the successive points of its course, but sees the whole at once , Sen. Q. N. 1, 14, 4.—
2 Trop., a cause, a circumstance; weight, influence, importance, moment : minimis momentis maximae inclinationes temporum fiunt, from the slightest causes spring the greatest changes , Cic. Phil. 5, 10, 26: momenta omnia observare, all the circumstances , id. Fam. 6, 10, 5: unamquamque rem momento suo ponderare, according to its importance , id. Font. 6, 21; cf.: ut omnia verborum momentis, non rerum ponderibus examinet, id. Rep. 3, 8, 12: ita parvae res magnum in utramque partem momentum habuerunt, influence , Caes. B. C. 3, 70: quorum adventus hoc tamen momenti fecit, ut Scipio abscederet inde, etc., Liv. 29, 35: nullum momentum in dando adimendoque regno habere, no decisive influence , id. 1, 47, 6: momenti aliquid apud Magnetas ad repetendam societatem Romanam facere, id. 35, 39, 3: cave quidquam habeat momenti gratia, weight, influence , Cic. Mur. 30, 62: magno ad persuadendum momento esse, id. Inv. 2, 26, 77: potentia, motives , Ov. M. 11, 285: Leonis (sideris), influence , Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 16: praebe nostrae momenta saluti, promote , Ov. P. 4, 13, 49: erant octo cohortes ... tum discordiā temporum a legione digressae, prout inclinassent, grande momentum sociae aut adversae, Tac. H. 1, 59: levi momento aestimare aliquid, to consider of little moment, to prize lightly , Caes. B. G. 7, 39: nullius momenti aliquid putare, of no moment, unimportant , Cic. Vatin. 1, 1: nullius momenti apud exercitum futurum, Nep. Alcib. 8, 4: quod (oppidum) per se parvum magni momenti locum obtinuit, Tac. H. 3, 8: id est maximi momenti et ponderis, of the greatest moment , Cic. Vatin. 4, 19: exponunt, se tentāsse etiam haud magni momenti finitimarum gentium auxilia, Liv. 10, 16, 5: sed in bello nihil tam leve est, quod non magnae interdum rei momentum faciat, id. 25, 18, 3; 28, 17, 10; 27, 45, 5: inpensam in rem maximi ad omnia momenti facere, id. 43, 23, 8: nullā in re nisi in virtute propensionem ne minimi quidem momenti esse ad, etc., Cic. Fin. 4, 17, 47: omnino nihil habere momenti, id. ib. 2, 12, 38.