sēcūrĭtas, ātis, f. [securus], freedom from care, unconcern, composure.
I Lit.
A In a good sense (class.): Democriti securitas, quae est animi tamquam tranquillitas, quam appellavit εὐθυμίαν, eo separanda fuit ab hac disputatione, quia ista animi tranquillitas ea ipsa est beata vita, Cic. Fin. 5, 8, 23: securitatem nunc appello vacuitatem aegritudinis, in quā vita beata posita est, id. Tusc. 5, 15, 42: vacandum omni est animi perturbatione, ut tranquillitas animi et securitas assit, quae affert cum constantiam tum etiam dignitatem, id. Off. 1, 21, 69: beatam vitam in animi securitate et in omnium vacatione munerum ponimus, id. N. D. 1, 20, 53; id. Lael. 15, 45 and 47; id. Att. 4, 16, 10; Liv. 36, 41; Cels. 4, 4 fin. ; Quint. 5, 13, 52 (opp. cura); Plin. Ep. 6, 16, 12 (opp. timor); 7, 6, 14; 7, 10, 60; Tac. A. 3, 44; 11, 3 fin. ; Sen. Ep. 105, 7: securitas inaffectatae orationis, quietness , Quint. 11, 1, 93; cf.: vocis ac vultus, Tac. A. 15, 55.— Plur. (opp. curae): somno ac securitatibus jam dudum hoc fuit, Plin. 23, 1, 23, § 41.—With gen. obj. : operosissima securitas mortis in M. Ofilio Hilaro ab antiquis traditur, Plin. 7, 53, 54, § 184.—
B In a bad sense, carelessness , heedlessness , negligence (not till after the Aug. period; syn. incuria): neminem celerius opprimi quam qui nihil timeret et frequentissimum initium esse calamitatis securitatem, Vell. 2, 118, 2: res altera taedium laboris, altera securitatem parit, Quint. 2, 2, 6; 2, 5, 13; 2, 3, 4; 4, 1, 55; 6, 1, 34; 6, 3, 62; Tac. H. 3, 83; Gell. 1, 15, 2; 4, 20, 8.—With gen. obj. : memoriae plerumque inhaeret fidelius, quod nullā scribendi securitate laxatur, Quint. 10, 6, 2.—
II Transf., object., freedom from danger , safety , security (not till after the Aug. period): cum innumerabilia sint mortis signa, salutis securitatisque nulla sunt, Plin. 7, 51, 52, § 171: securitatis urbanae custos, Vell. 2, 98, 1: securitas securitate mutuā persciscenda est, Sen. Clem. 1, 19, 5; cf.: securitati ante quam vindictae consulere, Tac. A. 11, 31: perpetua Romani imperii, Vell. 2, 103, 3: tutela securitatis, id. 2, 128, 3: nec spem modo ac votum securitas publica, sed ipsius voti fiduciam assumserit, Tac. Agr. 3: itinerum, Plin. 28, 2, 4, § 21: annonae, Tac. A. 15, 18: somnum a repentinā securitate datum, Just. 11, 13, 3: dextras securitatis, a safe conduct , Vulg. 2 Macc. 11, 30.—Hence, SECVRITAS, personified as the tutelary goddess of the Roman State , Inscr. Orell. 1830 and 1831.—
B Mercant. t. t., a guarantee , security for a debt or obligation (by hypothecation, mortgage; by receipt or acknowledgment, etc.): id quod sibi debetur, consequi debet vel ejus securitatem, Dig. 27, 4, 1 fin.—Plur. , Amm. 17, 10, 4; Symm. Ep. 10, 43 fin.