2. nātus, ūs (used only in abl. sing.), m. [nascor], lit. birth; hence,
- * I. Of plants, a growing, growth: cupressus natu morosa, slow of growth, Plin. 16, 33, 60, § 139.
- II. With esp. reference to age, birth, age, years (the class. signif. of the word): non admodum grandis natu, not very old, Cic. Sen. 4, 10: tantus natu, so old, Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 16: grandior natu, id. Aul. 2, 1, 37: P. Scaptius de plebe magno natu, an old man, Liv. 3, 71, 3: homo magno natu, id. 10, 38, 6: magno natu principes, id. 21, 34, 2: dicitur matrem Pausaniae vixisse eamque jam magno natu, Nep. Paus. 5, 3; id. Dat. 7, 1; id. Tim. 3, 1: qui fuit major natu, quam Plautus, older, Cic. Tusc. 1, 1, 3: cum ille Q. Scaevolam sibi minorem natu generum praetulisset, id. Brut. 26, 101: est tibi frater pari nobilitate, natu major, Tac. H. 1, 15: audivi ex majoribus natu hoc idem fuisse in P. Scipione Nasicā, Cic. Off. 1, 30, 109: ex iis (filiis) duo natu majores, Vell. 1, 10, 3: minorem natu, quam ipse erat, fratrem, Sen. ad Polyb. 15, 5: frater major natu, Liv. 3, 13, 2: id meā minime refert qui sum natu maximus, Ter. Ad. 5, 4, 27: praeter Philippum maximum natu ex filiis, Liv. 45, 6, 9: qui maximus natu esset ex liberis ejus. Nep. Ages. 1, 3: ita enim maximus ex iis in concilio respondit, the oldest, Liv. 21, 19 med.: filius non maximus natu, Tac. G. 32: ex his omnibus natu minimus, Q. Saturius est, the youngest, Cic. Clu. 38, 107: maximo natu filius, for maximus natu, his eldest son, Nep. Dat. 7, 1.