ventus, i, m. [Sanscr. vā, blow; vatas, wind; Gr. root αϝ-, ἄω, ἄημι, to blow; whence ἀήρ, αὔρα, etc.; Goth. vaia, to breathe; vinds, wind], wind (syn.: aura, flamen).
I Lit.: ventus est aëris fluens unda cum incerta motus redundantia, etc., Vitr. 1, 6; cf. Quint. 12, 10, 67; Plin. 2, 47, 46, § 120; Sen. Q. N. 5, 16 sq.; Isid. Orig. 13, 11: istic est is Juppiter quem dico, quem Graeci vocant Ἀέρα, qui ventus est et nubes, imber postea, Atque ex imbre frigus, ventus post fit, aër denuo, Varr. L. L. 5, § 65 Müll.; cf.: (aër) effluens huc et illuc ventos efficit, Cic. N. D. 2, 39, 101: deturbavit ventus tectum et tegulas, Plaut. Rud. prol. 78: mare ventorum vi agitari atque turbari, Cic. Clu. 49, 138: qui (divi) simul Stravere ventos, Hor. C. 1, 9, 10: remissior, Caes. B. C. 3, 26: prosper, Liv. 25, 27, 4: ventum exspectare, Cic. Phil. 1, 3, 8; id. Att. 10, 15, 2; 16, 7, 1: secundus, adversus, v. h. vv.—In apposition: Africus, Cic. N. D. 1, 36, 101: Atabalus, Quint. 8, 2, 13: Corus, Caes. B. G. 5, 7: Septentriones, Cic. Att. 9, 6, 3: turbo, Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 47; id. Trin. 4, 1, 16.—Prov.
1 Of labor lost: in vento et aquā scribere, Cat. 70, 4; so, profundere verba ventis, to talk to the wind , Lucr. 4, 931 (928); cf.: verba dare in ventos, Ov. Am. 1, 6, 42: ventis loqui, Amm. 15, 5, 8.—
2 Rem tradere ventis, to oblivion , Hor. C. 1, 26, 3. —
3 Ventis verba dare, i. q. not to keep one's word or promise , Ov. H. 2, 25 Ruhnk. —
4 Vento vivere, to live upon wind or air , Cod. Just. 5, 50, 2 fin. —
5 Ventis remis facere aliquid, with all one's might; v. remus. —
B Plur. , personified as deities, the winds : te, Apollo sancte, fer opem; teque, omnipotens Neptune, invoco; Vosque adeo, Venti! Turpil. ap. Cic. Tusc. 4, 34, 73 (Com. Rel. v. 119 Rib.); Lucr. 5, 1230 (1228); cf. Ov. H. 17 (18), 37.—
C Transf.
1 Windiness , flatulence , Col. 6, 30, 8.—
2 A light stuff : textilis, Poët. ap. Petr. 55 fin. —
II Trop., the wind , as a symbol of fortune (favorable or unfavorable), fame, applause, etc.: quicumque venti erunt, ars certe nostra non aberit, however the winds may blow , i. e. whatever circumstances may arise , Cic. Fam. 12, 25, 5: alios ego vidi ventos; alias prospexi animo procellas, id. Pis. 9, 21; cf.: cujus (Caesaris) nunc venti valde sunt secundi, id. Att. 2, 1, 6; so, secundi, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 102: vento aliquo in optimum quemque excitato, by raising a storm , Cic. Sull. 14, 41: eorum ventorum, quos proposui, moderator quidam et quasi gubernator (opus est), i. e. of the plans , designs , id. Fam. 2, 6, 4: loqui est coeptus, quo vento proicitur Appius minor, ut indicet, etc., Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 2; cf.: rumorum et contionum ventos colligere, Cic. Clu. 28, 77: omnes intellegimus in istis subscriptionibus ventum quendam popularem esse quaesitum, id. ib. 47, 130.