pūbes and pūber (cf. Prisc. p. 707 P.; also pūbis, ĕris, Caes. ib.), ĕris, adj. [root pu-, to beget; in Sanscr. putras, son; pumans, man; cf.: puer, pūpa, putus, etc.], that is grown up, of ripe age, adult, pubescent.
I Lit. (class.): pubes et puber qui generare potest: is incipit esse a quattuordecim annis: femina a duodecim viri potens, sive patiens, ut quidam putant, Fest. p. 250 Müll.; Crass. ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 55, 224: filii, Cic. Off. 1, 35, 129: priusquam pubes esset, Nep. Dion, 4, 4: ad puberem aetatem, Liv. 1, 3.—
B Subst.: pūbĕres , um, m., grown-up persons , adults , men (cf.: adulescens, ephebus): omnes puberes armati convenire consuerunt, Caes. B. G. 5, 56; id. B. C. 2, 13; 3, 9; Sall. J. 26, 3; 54, 6; Tac. A. 13, 39.— Sing. collect. : omnem Italiae pubem commiserat, Cic. Mil. 23, 61; Liv. 1, 9, 6; Suet. Ner. 43; Tac. H. 2, 47.— Rarely, of one person, a youth : ne praejudicium fiat impuberi per puberis personam, Dig. 37, 10, 3, § 8.—
II Transf., of plants, covered with soft down , downy , pubescent , ripe : folia, Verg. A. 12, 413: uvae, Front. Ep. ad M. Caes. 4, 4 Mai.