solstĭtĭum, ii, n. [sol-sisto].
I In gen., the time when the sun seems to stand still , either in Cancer or in Capricorn, the (summer or winter) solstice (so in gen. not till after the Aug. period): solstitium aestivum ... hibernum, Col. 7, 3, 11: aestivum, Plin. 2, 103, 106, § 229: brumale, Col. 11, 2, 94: solstitia et aequinoctia, id. 9, 14, 12.—
II In partic., the summer solstice , the longest day of the year (opp. bruma, the prevalent signif. of the word): alter motus solis est ... a brumā ad solstitium. Solstitium quod sol eo die sistere videbatur, Varr. L. L. 6, § 8 Müll.; Cato R. R. 104; Varr. R. R. 1, 28, 2; 1, 1, 46; Cic. N. D. 2, 7, 19; 2, 19, 50; id. Div. 2, 44, 93; Plin. 8, 43, 68, § 167; 18, 28, 68, § 264 al.—
B Transf., in gen., summer time , the heat of summer (poet. and in post-Aug. prose; cf. bruma, 2.): paenula solstitio, campestre nivalibus auris Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 18; Verg. G. 1, 100; Ov. Tr. 5, 10, 7; Sen. Ben. 1, 12, 3: solstitium pecori defendite, Verg. E. 7, 47.