2. Nĕpos, ōtis, m., a surname in the gens Cornelia. So Cornelius Nepos, a Roman historian, the friend of Cicero, Atticus, and Calullus; author of the work De Viris Illustribus, a portion of which is preserved, Gell. 15, 28; Plin. 9, 39, 63, § 137; Plin. Ep. 5, 3, 6; 4, 28, 1.