propter, adv. and prep. [contr. for propiter, from prope; cf.: inter, subter].
I Adv., near , hard by , at hand (syn.: prope, juxta; rare but class.). serito in loco, ubi aqua propter siet, Cato R. R. 151, 2: ibi angiportum propter est, Ter. Ad. 576: propter dormire, id. Eun. 368: araque Panchaeos exhalat propter odores, Lucr. 2, 417: propter est spelunca, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 107 (al. prope): vident unum virum esse ... et eum propter esse, id. Imp. Pomp. 5, 13: cum duo reges propter assint, id. ib. 6, 16: (caules) si propter sati sunt, id. N. D. 2, 47, 120: duo filii propter cubantes, id. Rosc. Am. 23, 64; id. Inv. 2, 4, 14: adulescentia voluptates propter intuens, id. Sen. 14, 48; id. ap. Non. 367, 25: cornix propter volans, Phaedr. 2, 6, 7: praeter propter, v praeter. —
II Prep. with acc., near , hard by , close to (syn.: prope, juxta, ad).
A Lit., of place (rare but class.); stat propter virum fortem, Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 9; id. Curc. 4, 1, 14; id. Rud. prol. 33: partem cohortium propter mare collocat, Sisenn ap. Non. 367, 32: hic propter hunc assiste, Ter. Ad. 169: propter eam porticum situm erat dolium, Varr ap. Non. 367, 31: propter Platonis statuam consedimus, Cic. Brut. 6, 25: propter aliquem assidere, id. Rep. 1, 11, 17 (cited ap. Non. 367, 28): insulae propter Siciliam, id. N. D. 3, 22, 55: propter aquae rivum, Lucr. 2, 30; Verg. E. 8, 87.—Following its case: viam propter, Tac. A. 15, 47: hostem propter, id. ib. 4, 48.—
B Trop., in stating a cause.
1 On account of , by reason of , from , for , because of (syn. ob; the predom. signif. of the word): parere legibus propter metum, Cic. Par. 5, 1, 34; cf.: propter metum poenae, id. Sest. 46, 99: propter eam ipsam causam, id. de Or. 1, 16, 72: propter frigora frumenta in agris matura non erant, Caes. B. G. 1, 16: propter humanitatem, Cic. Att. 7, 5, 2: is propter morbum exire non potuit, Auct. Her. 1, 11, 19: excusato languore faucium propter quem non adesset, Suet. Ner. 41; id. Aug. 8; Sall. J. 23, 1: bidentes propter viam facere, to sacrifice on account of a journey , Laber, ap. Non. 53, 26; cf.: propter viam fit sacrificium quod est proficiscendi gratiā, Herculi aut Sanco, Fest. p. 229 Müll.; Plaut. Rud. 1, 2, 62: propter injuriam, to avoid injury , Pall. 12, 13: propter hoc, propter quod, on that account , for which reason , Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 14; Col. 1, 6, 18: propter me, te, etc., on my , thy account , etc., as far as I ( you , etc.) are concerned , = mea causā, or per me: egon propter me illam decipi miseram sinam? Ter. And. 271; id. Eun. 744: non est aequom me propter vos decipi, id. Phorm. 927: di numquam propter me de caelo descendent, Liv. 6, 18, 9.—
2 Through , by means of (rare).
a Referring to persons in whom lies the cause of a thing: te propter tuam Matrem non posse habere hanc uxorem domi, Ter. Hec. 677: propter quos vivit, through whom he lives , to whom he owes life , Cic. Mil. 22, 58: lugere eum, propter quem ceteri laetarentur, id. ib. 30, 81; 34, 93.—
b To things by means of which any thing takes place: quid enim refert, utrum propter oves, an propter aves fructus capias? Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 11.— Placed after its case: quod propter studium cum rem neglegere familiarem videretur, Cic. Sen. 7, 22; id. Pis. 7, 15; id. Att. 10, 4, 1 al.: suctum propter lactis, Plin. 10, 40, 56, § 115: quam propter tantos potui perferre labores, Verg. A. 12, 177.