Lewis & Short

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).

  1. 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. 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. 2. Rem tradere ventis, to oblivion, Hor. C. 1, 26, 3.
      3. 3. Ventis verba dare, i. q. not to keep one’s word or promise, Ov. H. 2, 25 Ruhnk.
      4. 4. Vento vivere, to live upon wind or air, Cod. Just. 5, 50, 2 fin.
      5. 5. Ventis remis facere aliquid, with all one’s might; v. remus.
    1. 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.
    2. C. Transf.
      1. 1. Windiness, flatulence, Col. 6, 30, 8.
      2. 2. A light stuff: textilis, Poët. ap. Petr. 55 fin.
  2. 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.