pĕrītus, a, um, adj. [prop. Part. of perior (in ex-perior); root par-, per-; Gr. περάω; v. periculum], experienced, practised, practically acquainted, skilled, skilful, expert (cf.: gnarus, consultus).
I Lit.
α Absol. : nil iam mihi novi Offerri pote, quin sim peritus, Plaut. Pers. 2, 3, 19: doctos homines vel usu peritos, Cic. Off. 1, 41, 147: docti a peritis, id. ib. 3, 3, 15: ab hominibus callidis ac peritis animadversa, id. de Or. 1, 23, 109: decede peritis, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 213: me peritus discet Iber, id. C. 2, 20, 19: homo peritissimus, Cic. de Or. 1, 15, 66: hominem peritissimum in eis ipsis rebus, superare, quas, etc., id. ib. 1, 15, 66: peritissimi duces, Caes. B. C. 3, 73; Prop. 1, 10, 7. —
β With gen.: multarum rerum peritus, Cic. Font. 7, 15: antiquitatis nostrae et scriptorum veterum litterate peritus, id. Brut. 56, 205: earum regionum, Caes. B. C. 1, 48: caelestium prodigiorum, Liv. 1, 34: peritiores rei militaris, id. 3, 61: bellorum omnium peritissimus, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 23, 68: peritissimi caeli ac siderum vates, Curt. 4, 10, 4: juris, Juv. 1, 128: vir movendarum lacrimarum peritissimus, Plin. Ep. 2, 11, 3: definiendi, Cic. Off. 3, 14, 60.—
γ With abl.: jure peritus, Lucil. ap. Charis. p. 62 P.: jure peritissimus, Aur. Vict. Epit. 19: quis jure peritior? Cic. Clu. 38, 107: peritus bello, Vell. 2, 29, 3: peritus disciplinā militari, Gell. 4, 8, 2: arte fabricā peritus, Dig. 33, 7, 19.—
δ With ad : ad usum et disciplinam peritus, Cic. Font. 15, 43: et ad respondendum et ad cavendum peritus, id. de Or. 1, 48, 212: ad prospicienda cavendaque pericula, Just. 31, 2, 2.—
ε With in and abl.: sive in amore rudis, sive peritus erit, Prop. 2, 34 (3, 32), 82.—
ζ With de : de agriculturā peritissimus, Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 10.—
η With acc. (poet.): arma virumque peritus, Aus. Epigr. 137.—
θ With inf. or object-clause (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): soli cantare periti Arcades, Verg. E. 10, 32: peritus obsequi, Tac. Agr. 8: urentes oculos inhibere perita, Pers. 2, 34: rex peritus, fortius adversus Romanos aurum esse quam ferrum, Flor. 3, 1, 7.—Hence, subst.: pĕrītissĭ-mus , i, m., a man of extraordinary skill : cum discendi causā duobus peritissimis operam dedisset, etc., Cic. Brut. 42, 154.—
II Transf., of abstract things, skilfully constructed , clever : peritae fabulae, Aus. Ep. 16, 92.—Hence, adv.: pĕrītē , in an experienced manner , skilfully , expertly , cleverly : quod institutum perite a Numa, Cic. Leg. 2, 12, 29: perite et ornate dicere, id. de Or. 2, 2, 5; Gell. 17, 5 fin. : callide et perite versari in aliquā re, Cic. de Or. 1, 11, 48: distributa perite, id. ib. 2, 19, 81.— Comp. : peritius fit aliquid ab aliquo, Sen. Ep. 90, 33.— Sup. : aliquid peritissime et callidissime venditare, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 54, § 135: disputare, Val. Max. 8, 11, 1: suavissime et peritissime legere, Plin. Ep. 3, 15, 3.