torvus, a, um, adj. [perh. for torg-vus; Sanscr. root targ-, to threaten], orig. of the eyes,
I staring , keen , piercing , wild , stern; hence, in gen., wild , fierce , grim , gloomy , savage , in aspect or character (poet. and in post-Aug. prose; syn.: trux, truculentus, ferus): ille tuens oculis immitem Phinea torvis, Ov. M. 5, 92: oculi, Quint. 11, 3, 75; Val. Max. 5, 1, ext. 6: cernimus astantes lumine torvo Aetnaeos fratres, Verg. A. 3, 677; so, lumine, Ov. M. 9, 27; and absol. : aspicit hanc torvis (sc. oculis), id. ib. 6, 34: vultus, Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 12; Sen. Ira, 2, 35, 3; Val. Max. 3, 8, 6; Quint. 6, 1, 43; 11, 3, 160: facies, Sen. Ira, 1, 1, 3: forma minantis, Ov. P. 2, 8, 22: aspectus (equi), Plin. 8, 42, 64, § 154 optima torvae Forma bovis, Verg. G. 3, 51: frons (Polyphemi), Verg. A. 3, 636: torvi cymba senis, Prop. 3, 18 (4, 17), 24: feroci ingenio torvus praegrandi gradu, Pac. ap. Fest. p. 355: torvu' draco serpit, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 42, 106: angues, Verg. A. 6, 571: leaena, id. E. 2, 63: aper, Prop. 2, 3, 6: taurus, Ov. M. 8, 132: juvencus, id. ib. 6, 115; 10, 237: Medusa, Ov. A. A. 2, 309: Mars, Hor. C. 1, 28, 17: Ister (as a horned river-god), Val. Fl. 8, 218 et saep.: ferox et torva confidentia, Pac. ap. Fest. p. 355 Müll.; cf. proclia, Cat. 66, 20: vina, i. e. harsh , sharp , tart , Plin. 17, 23, 35, § 213.— Comp. : voce hominis et tuba rudore torvior, App. Flor. 17.— Sup. : leonis torvissima facies, Arn. 6, p. 196.—
β torvum and torva , adverb., fiercely , sternly , sharply , etc.: torvumque repente Clamat, Verg. A. 7, 399: torvum lacrimans, Stat. Th. 12, 127: torva tuens, Verg. A. 6, 467; Val. Fl. 2, 255. — Adv.: torvĭter , sharply , severely , sternly (ante-class.): aliquem increpare, Enn. ap. Non. 516, 16 (Ann. v. 79 Vahl.); Pomp. ap. Non. 516, 15 (Com. Fragm. v. 18 Rib.).