strēnuus, a, um, adj. [root in Gr. στερεός, firm, hard; cf. sterilis, and Germ. starren], brisk, nimble, quick, prompt, active, vigorous, strenuous.
I Of persons (freq. and class.; syn.: fortis, alacer, agilis): mercator strenuus, Cato R. R. praef. § 3; cf.: vilicus strenuior, Lucil. ap. Prisc. p. 601 P. (Sat. 16, 5): strenui nimio plus prosunt populi quam arguti et cati, Plaut. Truc. 2, 6, 12: homo, Ter. Phorm. 476: multi alii ex Trojā strenui viri, Naev. 1, 17: strenuior (opp. deterior), Plaut. Ep. 3, 4, 10: viri fortissimi et milites strenuissimi, Cato R. R. praef. § 4; cf. Cic. Phil. 2, 32, 78: strenuus et fortis, Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 46; Liv. 21, 4, 4: imperator in proeliis strenuus et fortis, Quint. 12, 3, 5: strenui ignavique in victoriā idem audent, Tac. H. 2, 14 fin. ; so (opp. ignavus) id. ib. 4, 69; (opp. iners) id. ib. 1, 46; Sall. C. 61, 7; 51, 16: noli me tam strenuum putare, ut ad Nonas recurram, Hirt. ap. Cic. Att. 15, 6, 2: Graeci, gens linguā magis strenua quam factis, Liv. 8, 22, 8; Tac. H. 3, 57: quodsi cessas aut strenuus anteis, Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 70 et saep.—With gen.: strenuus militiae, Tac. H. 3, 42.—
B Restless , turbulent (post-Aug.): multi in utroque exercitu, sicut modesti quietique, ita mali et strenui, Tac. H. 1, 52: strenuus in perfidiā, id. ib. 3, 57.—
II Transf., of things (not in class. prose): operam reipublicae fortem atque strenuam perhibere, Cato ap. Gell. 3, 7, 19; cf. Plaut. ib. 7, 7, 3: adulescens strenuā facie, id. Rud. 2, 2, 8: manus (chirurgi), nimble , quick , dexterous , Cels. 7 praef. med. : corpus, Gell. 3, 1, 12: navis, Ov. Tr. 1, 10, 34: strenua nos exercet inertia, busy idleness , Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 28: transiliebant in vehicula strenuo saltu, Curt. 9, 3, 15: toxica, quick , speedy , Col. 10, 18: remedium, Curt. 3, 6, 2: causa tam strenuae mortis, id. 9, 8, 20.—Hence, adv.: strē-nuē , briskly , quickly , promptly , actively , strenuously : strenue quod volumus ostendere factum, celeriuscule dicemus, at aliud otiose, retardabimus, Auct. Her. 3, 14, 24: aliquid facere, Plaut. Mil. 2, 5, 48: converrite scopis, agite strenue, id. Fragm. ap. Charis. p. 195 P.: abi prae strenue ac aperi fores, Ter. Ad. 167: arma capere, Cic. Rab. Perd. 10, 30: aedificare domum, id. Q. Fr. 2, 4, 2: praesto fuit sane strenue, id. Fam. 14, 5, 1.—Without a verb: Da. Jam hercle ego illum nominabo. Tr. Euge strenue, Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 59; id. Ps. 1, 5, 94.— Sup. : per hos strenuissime omnia bella confecta, Veg. Mil. 1, 17.— Comp. seems not to occur.