scĕlus, ĕris, n. [Sanscr. root skhal, to fall, akin to khal-, to deceive; cf. Goth. skal, to owe], an evil deed; a wicked, heinous, or impious action; a crime, sin, enormity, wickedness (the strongest general term for a morally bad act or quality; very freq. both in sing. and plur.; cf. nefas).
I Lit.
1 Absol. : facinus est vincire civem Romanum, scelus verberare, prope parricidium necare, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 66, § 170; cf. so (opp. to flagitia and delicta) Tac. G. 12: majus in sese scelus concipere nefariis sceleribus coöpertus, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 4, § 9; id. Rosc. Am. 13, 37: detestabile scelus, id. Lael. 8, 27: scelus atque perfidia, id. Rosc. Am. 38, 109; so (with perfidia) id. Phil. 11, 2, 5; id. Att. 2, 22, 2; 3, 13, 2; Sall. J. 107, 2; Liv. 40, 39 al.; cf. (with audacia) Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 66, § 170; (with furor) id. ib. 2, 5, 62, § 161; (with avaritia) id. ib. 2, 5, 9, § 24; id. Clu. 8, 23: documentum Persarum sceleris, id. Rep. 3, 9, 15: ex hac parte pudor pugnat, illinc petulantia ... hinc pietas, illinc scelus, id. Cat. 2, 11, 25: scelus est igitur, nocere bestiae, quod scelus qui velit, etc., id. Rep. 3, 11, 19: quid mali aut sceleris fingi aut excogitari potest, quod, etc., id. Cat. 2, 4, 7: nefario scelere concepto, id. Verr. 2, 4, 32, § 72: concipere in se, id. ib. 2, 1, 4, § 9 (v. supra): tantum sceleris admittere, id. Att. 9, 10, 3: scelus nefarium facere, id. de Or. 1, 51, 221; cf. id. Rosc. Am. 9, 25: perficere, id. Clu. 68, 194: scelus an-helare, id. Cat. 2, 1, 1: moliri, id. Att. 7, 11, 1: edere, id. Phil. 13, 9, 21; cf.: edere in aliquem, id. Sest. 27, 58: suscipere, id. Phil. 11, 1, 2: scelere se alligare, id. Fl. 17, 41: scelere astringi, id. Sest. 50, 108: scelere obstringi, id. Verr. 2, 4, 32, § 71: obrui, Liv. 3, 19 et saep.—
2 With gen. obj. : scelus legatorum contra jus gentium interfectorum, the crime of murdering their deputies , Liv. 4, 32.—Prov.: vulgo dicitur: Scelera non habere consilium, Quint. 7, 2, 44.—
II Transf.
A Of animals or inanimate things (post-Aug.; perh. only in Plin.), a bad quality , vicious nature , a vice , fault : nec bestiarum solum ad nocendum scelera sunt, sed interim aquarum quoque et locorum, Plin. 25, 3, 6, § 20: maximum salamandrae, id. 29, 4, 23, § 74: Scythae sagittas tingunt viperină sanie ... inremediabile id scelus, id. 11, 53, 115, § 279.—
B Concr., in vulgar lang. as a term of reproach, rascal , scoundrel , villain , rogue; and of women, drab , baggage , etc.: minime miror, navis si fracta tibi, Scelus te et sceleste parta quae vexit bona, Plaut. Rud. 2, 6, 22; id. Am. 2, 1, 7; id. Bacch. 5, 1, 9; id. Mil. 3, 2, 14; 3, 2, 27; id. Pers. 4, 9, 6; Ter. And. 317; 666; id. Eun. 941; id. Ad. 768; 774 al.; cf.: scelus viri, you scoundrel of a man , Plaut. Truc. 2, 7, 60.— With a masc. pron. : is me scelus attondit, etc., Plaut. Bacch. 5, 1, 9: ubi illic est scelus, quid me perdidit? Ter. And. 607; cf.: scelus, quemnam hic laudat? id. ib. 844.—
C In Plaut., Ter., and Mart., a mishap (qs. arising from wickedness), a misfortune , calamity (cf. sceleratus, B. 2., and scelestus, II.): perdidi unum filium puerum quadrimum ... Major potitus hostium est: quod hoc est scelus! Plaut. Capt. 3, 5, 104: Pa. Quid hoc est sceleris? Ch. Perii, Ter. Eun. 325 Ruhnk.; Mart. 7, 14, 1.—
D A natural catastrophe : scelera naturae, i. e. earthquakes , inundations , etc., Plin. 2, 93, 95, § 206.