vertex (vortex; cf. Quint. 1, 7, 25 The archaic form vortex was already disused in Cicero's time; cf. Ribbeck, Prol. Verg. 436 sq.; id. G. 1, 481 n. Wagn. The grammarian Caper distinguishes thus: vortex fluminis est, vertex capitis; but this distinction was unknown in the class. per.; v. Charis. p. 68), ĭcis, m. [verto].
I A whirl , eddy , whirlpool , vortex : secundo modo dicitur proprium inter plura, quae sunt ejusdem nominis, id, unde cetera ducta sunt: ut vertex est contorta in se aqua vel quicquid aliud similiter vertitur: inde propter flexum capillorum pars summa capitis;ex hoc id, quod in montibus eminentissimum. Recte dixeris haec omnia vertices, proprie tamen, unde initium est, Quint. 8, 2, 7: ut aquae circumlatae in se sorbeantur et vorticem efficiant, Sen. Q. N. 5, 13, 2: torto vertice torrens, Verg. A. 7, 567: illam ... rapidus vorat aequore vertex, id. ib. 1, 117: (flumen) minores volvere vertices, Hor. C. 2, 9, 22; Ov. M. 5, 587; 8, 556; 9, 106; id. F. 6, 502; Sil. 4, 230: citatior solito amnis transverso vertice dolia inpulit ad ripam, Liv. 23, 19, 11; 28, 30, 11; Curt. 6, 13, 16.—
B Trop.: amoris, Cat. 68, 107: officiorum, Sen. Ep. 82, 2: quā medius pugnae vocat agmina vertex, Sil. 4, 230.—
II An eddy of wind or flame , a whirlwind , coil of flame : (venti) interdum vertice torto Corripiunt rapideque rotanti turbine portant, Lucr. 1, 293; 6, 444; Liv. 21, 58, 3: extemplo cadit igneus ille Vertex, Lucr. 6, 298; Verg. A. 12, 673; cf.: ventus saepius in se volutatur, similemque illis, quas diximus converti aquas, facit vorticem, Sen. Q. N. 5, 13, 2. —
III The top or crown of the head.
A Lit.: ab imis unguibus usque ad verticem summum, Cic. Rosc. Com. 7, 20; cf. Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 4; Plin. 11, 37, 48, § 132; Hor. C. 1, 1, 36; Ov. M. 12, 288; 2, 712; id. P. 3, 8, 12; Quint. 8, 2, 7; 1, 11, 10.—
B Transf.
1 The head (poet.) Cat. 64, 63; 64, 310: toto vertice supra est, Verg. A. 7, 784: nudus, id. ib. 11, 642: moribundus, Ov. M. 5, 84: intonsus, Stat. Th. 6, 607; Val. Fl. 4, 307.—
2 The pole of the heavens, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 41, 105; id. Rep. 6, 21; Verg. G. 1, 242. —
3 The highest point , top , peak , summit of a mountain, house, tree, etc.: ignes, qui ex Aetnae vertice erumpunt, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 106; Quint. 8, 3, 48; Lucr. 6, 467; Tib. 1, 7, 15; Ov. M. 1. 316; 13, 911; Petr. poët. 122; 134 fin. ; Curt. 8, 3, 26: in Erycino vertice, Verg. A. 5, 759; Val. Fl. 1, 700: arcis, Lucr. 6, 750: domus, Mart. 8, 36, 11; cf. Hor. C. 4, 11, 12: theatri, Mart. 10, 19, 7: quercūs, Verg. A. 3, 679: pinūs, Ov. M. 10, 103.—Hence, a vertice, from above , down from above , Verg. G. 2, 310; id. A. 1, 114; 5, 444.—
b Trop., the highest , uttermost , greatest (poet.): dolorum anxiferi vertices, Cic. poët. Tusc. 2, 9, 21: principiorum, the highest officers , Amm. 15, 5, 16: Alexandria enim vertex omnium est civitatum, id. 22, 16, 7.