vĕnustas, ātis, f. [1. Venus], loveliness, comeliness, charm, grace, beauty, elegance, attractiveness, etc. (syn.: pulchritudo, formositas).
I Of the body: cum pulchritudinis duo genera sint, quorum in altero venustas sit, in altero dignitas, venustatem muliebrem ducere debemus, dignitatem virilem, Cic. Off. 1, 36, 130; cf. id. ib. 1, 30, 17: venustas et pulchritudo corporis, id. ib. 1, 27, 95: voltus quantam affert tum dignitatem, tum venustatem, id. Or. 18, 60.— Transf., of inanim. things: signa eximiā venustate, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 3, § 5: Capitolii fastigium illud non venustas sed necessitas ipsa fabricata est, id. de Or. 3, 46, 180: pomorum, Varr. R. R. 1, 59, 2.—
II Of the mind: homo affluens omni lepore et venustate, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142: (oratoris est) agere cum dignitate ac venustate, id. de Or. 1, 31, 142: dicendi vis egregia, summā festivitate et venustate conjuncta profuit, id. ib. 1, 57, 243: comprobari cum dignitate tum etiam venustate, id. Arch. 12, 31; Quint. 4, 2, 118; 9, 2, 66; 9, 3, 72: verborum, Gell. 17, 20, 6: tui quidem omnes mores ad venustatem valent, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 63; cf. id. ib. 3, 1, 54; id. Truc. 4, 2, 4: diem pulchrum et venustatis plenum, pleasantness , pleasure , id. Poen. 1, 2, 44; cf.: quis me fortunatior, venustatisque adeo plenior, Ter. Hec. 848.— Plur. : amoenitates omnium venerum atque venustatum affero, Plaut. Stich. 2, 1, 5; id. Ps. 5, 1, 12.