pectus, ŏris, n. [kindred with the Sanscr. vakshas, pectus], the breast, in men and animals.
I Lit., the breast , the breastbone : pectus, hoc est ossa praecordiis et vitalibus natura circumdedit, Plin. 11, 37, 82, § 207; cf. Cels. 8, 7 fin. ; 8, 8, 2: meum cor coepit in pectus emicare, Plaut. Aul. 4, 3, 4: dignitas, quae est in latitudine pectoris, Quint. 11, 3, 141: summis digitis pectus appetere, id. 11, 3, 124; 11, 3, 122: pectore adverso, id. 2, 15, 7: aequo pectore, upright , not inclined to one side , id. 11, 3, 125: pectore in adverso ensem Condidit, Verg. A. 9, 347: in pectusque cadit pronus, Ov. M. 4, 578: latum demisit pectore clavum, Hor. S. 1, 6, 28; 2, 8, 90 et saep.; Vulg. Gen. 3, 14.—In the poets freq., in plur., of a person's breast : hasta volans perrumpit pectora ferro, Liv. Andron. ap. Prisc. p. 760 P.; Ov. M. 4, 554.—
II Transf.
A The stomach (poet.): reserato pectore diras Egerere inde dapes ... gestit, Ov. M. 6, 663.—
B The breast.
1 As the seat of affection, courage, etc., the heart , feelings , disposition : somnum socordiamque ex pectore oculisque amovere, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 11: Ah, guttula Pectus ardens mi adspersisti, i. e. a little comforted , id. Ep. 4, 1, 32: in amicitiā, nisi, ut dicitur, apertum pectus videas, etc., Cic. Lael. 26, 97: si non ipse amicus per se amatur toto pectore ut dicitur, id. Leg. 1, 18, 49: pietate omnium pectora imbuere, Liv. 1, 21, 1: metus insidens pectoribus, id. 10, 41, 2; 1, 56, 4: quinam pectora semper impavida repens terror invaserit, id. 21, 30, 2: in eodem pectore nullum est honestorum turpiumque consortium, Quint. 12, 1, 4; 2, 5, 8: te vero ... jam pectore toto Accipio, Verg. A. 9, 276: his ubi laeta deae permulsit pectora dictis, id. ib. 5, 816: robur et aes triplex circa pectus erat, Hor. C. 1, 3, 10; 2, 12, 15: pectoribus mores tot sunt quot in orbe figurae, Ov. A. A. 1, 759: mollities pectoris, tender-heartedness , id. Am. 3, 8, 18; id. H. 19, 192; so, pectus amicitiae, a friendly heart , a friend , Mart. 9, 15, 2; Stat. S. 4, 4, 103; Manil. 2, 600.— Of courage , bravery : cum tales animos juvenum et tam certa tulistis Pectora, Verg. A. 9, 249: te vel per Alpium juga ... Forti sequemur pectore, Hor. Epod. 1, 11; Val. Fl. 6, 288.—Of conscience : vita et pectore puro, Hor. S. 1, 6, 64: pectora casta, Ov. H. 13, 30.—
2 The soul , spirit , mind , understanding : de hortis toto pectore cogitemus, Cic. Att. 13, 12, 4; so, incumbe toto pectore ad laudem, id. Fam. 10, 10, 2: onerandum complendumque pectus maximarum rerum et plurimarum suavitate, id. de Or. 3, 30, 121: quod verbum in pectus Jugurthae altius descendit, Sall. J. 11, 7; Liv. 1, 59: (stultitiam tuam) in latebras abscondas pectore penitissumo, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 64: multipotens pectus habere, ut copias ... pectore promat suo, id. Bacch. 4, 1, 8 Fleck.: haben' tu amicum quoi pectus sapiat? id. Trin. 1, 2, 53; id. Bacch. 4, 4, 12: at Cytherea novas artes, nova pectore versat Consilia, Verg. A. 1, 657: oculis pectoris aliquid haurire, Ov. M. 15, 63; id. Tr. 3, 1, 64: memori referas mihi pectore cuncta, Hor. S. 2, 4, 90: nunc adbibe puro Pectore verba, id. Ep. 1, 2, 68; 2, 1, 128: pectore arripere artes, Tac. Or. 28: pectus est quod disertos facit, et vis mentis, Quint. 10, 7, 15; Ov. P. 2, 4, 24: succinctaque pectora curis, Stat. S. 5, 1, 77: rara occulti pectoris vox, i. e. a reserved disposition , Tac. A. 4, 52: dicere de summo pectore, i.e. without much reflection , Gell. 17, 13, 7.—Of inspired persons: incaluitque deo quem clausum pectore habebat, Ov. M. 2, 641; Verg. A. 6, 48; Stat. Th. 4, 542.—
3 The person , individual , regarded as a being of feeling or passion: cara sororum Pectora, Verg. A. 11, 216: mihi Thesea pectora juncta fide, Ov. Tr. 1, 3, 66: pectus consulis gerere, Liv. 4, 13; cf. Mart. 9, 15; Manil. 2, 600; Stat. S. 4, 4, 103.