pūbertas, ātis, f. [puber], the age of manhood or maturity, puberty.
I Lit.: primis pubertatis annis, Just. 9, 6, 5: ab initio pubertatis, id. 23, 1, 8; 35, 2, 2; and: circa pubertatem, Plin. 25, 13, 95, § 154: pubertatis et primae adulescentiae tempus, Suet. Dom. 1; cf. Macr. S. 7, 7: differetur quaestio in tempus pubertatis, Dig. 37, 10, 1, § 11; 37, 10, 7, § 3.—
II Transf.
A The signs of puberty , the beard , etc., Cic. N. D. 2, 33, 86; Plin. 7, 16, 17, § 76; 21, 26, 97, § 170.—
2 Of plants, soft down , pubescence , Plin. 23, praef. 4, § 7.—
B Manhood , virility : inexhausta pubertas, Tac. G. 20, 2.—
C Youth , young persons : pubertas canis suum honorem reddebat, Val. Max. 2, 1, 10: dux pubertatis, Vulg. Prov. 2, 17.