parturio

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

partŭrĭo, īvi or ĭi, 4 (imperf. parturibat, Phaedr. 4, 21, 1), v. desid. a. [2. pario], to desire to bring forth, to be in travail or labor; said of women and of animals.

I Lit.: vereor ne parturire intellegat, Ter. Hec. 413: tu (Lucina) voto parturientis ades, Ov. F. 3, 256: parturiens canis, Phaedr. 1, 18, 3.—Prov.: parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus, said of those who promise great things, but accomplish little or nothing; like the Engl. expression, great cry and little wool , Hor. A. P. 139 (after the Greek proverb, ὤδινεν ὄρος, εἶτα μῦν ἀπέτεκεν); cf., also, Phaedr. 4, 21, 1 sq.—

II Transf.

A To be big or pregnant with any thing; to brood over , meditate , purpose , Cic. Mur. 39, 84: ut aliquando dolor populi Romani pariat, quod jamdiu parturit! id. Phil. 2, 46, 118; so, quod diu parturit animus vester, aliquando pariat, Liv. 21, 18, 12: ingentes parturit ira minas, Ov. H. 12, 208; cf.: filioli mei quos iterum parturio, Vulg. Gal. 4, 19.—*

B To be anxious or concerned : quā (securitate) frui non possit animus, si tamquam parturiat unus pro pluribus, Cic. Lael. 13, 45; Ap. Met. 7, 4, 5.—

C In gen., to bring forth , produce , yield , generate , etc. (poet.): quis Parthum paveat ... Quis Germania quos horrida parturit Fetus, incolumi Caesare? Hor. C. 4, 5, 26: et nunc omnis ager, nunc omnis parturit arbos, is budding forth , Verg. E. 3, 56; id. G. 2, 330; cf. Col. poët. 10, 10: neque parturit imbres Perpetuos (Notus), Hor. C. 1, 7, 16: felicemque uterum, qui nomina parturit annis, i. e. the yearly consuls , Claud. Cons. Prob. et Olybr. 204: parturit innumeros angusto pectore mundos, to conceive , imagine , id. Cons. Mall. Theod. 81, 3.—Hence, P. a. as subst.: partŭrĭens , entis, f., a woman in labor : dolores parturientis, Vulg. Osee, 13, 13; id. Psa. 47, 6.

Related Words

  • parturio

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    An Elementary Latin Dictionary