Lewis & Short

consŭlo, lŭi, ltum, 3, v. n. and a. [from con and root sal-; cf. consul and consilium].

  1. I. To consider, reflect, deliberate, take counsel, reflect upon, consult.
    1. A. Neutr.
      1. 1. In gen.
          1. (α) Absol.: quid nunc? etiam consulis? do you still deliberate, i. e. hesitate? Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 171; cf. id. Truc. 2, 4, 75 Speng.: ne quid in consulendo adversi eveniat, Cato ap. Gell. 7, 3, 14: consulto opus est, there is need of deliberation, Sall. C. 1, 6: dum tempus consulendi est, Ter. Hec. 5, 1, 19: satis facere consulentibus, Cic. Or. 42, 143: ut omnium rerum vobis ad consulendum potestas esset, Liv. 8, 13, 18: ut tot uno tempore motibus animi turbati trepidarent magis quam consulerent, id. 21, 16, 2: praesidium consulenti curiae, Hor. C. 2, 1, 14 et saep.
          2. (β) With in and acc.: consulere in longitudinem, to take thought for the future, Ter. Heaut. 5, 2, 10: in commune, for the common good, id. And. 3, 3, 16; Liv. 32, 21, 1; Tac. A. 12, 5; id. Agr. 12; Curt. 5, 9, 14; and in the same sense: in medium, Verg. A. 11, 335; Liv. 24, 22, 15; Tac. H. 2, 5; Luc. 5, 46: in unum, Tac. H. 1, 68; 4, 70: in publicum (opp. suscipere proprias simultates), Plin. Ep. 9, 13, 21; Tac. A. 1, 24.
          3. (γ) With de and abl.: bello confecto de Rhodiis consultum est, Sall. C. 51, 5; so, de communibus negotiis, id. J. 105, 1: de salute suorum, Cic. Sull. 22, 63: omnibus de rebus, Tac. A. 4, 40.
          4. (δ) With ut or ne: consulere vivi ac prospicere debemus, ut illorum (liberorum) solitudo munita sit, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 58, § 153: tu ne qua manus se attollere nobis A tergo possit, custodi et consule longe, Verg. A. 9, 322.
            Impers.: ut urbi … satis esset praesidii, consultum atque provisum est, Cic. Cat. 2, 12, 26: ne deficerent, consulendum esse, Cels. 3, 4, 31.
      2. 2. Esp., consulere alicui or alicui rei, to take care for some person or thing, to be mindful of, take care of, look to, have regard for, to counsel or consult for: tuae rei bene consulere cupio, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 9: quid me fiat, parvi pendis, dum illi consulas, Ter. Heaut. 4, 3, 37: qui parti civium consulunt, partem neglegunt, Cic. Off. 1, 25, 85: consulere eorum commodis et utilitati salutique servire, id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 9, § 27; so, famae, pudicitiae tuae, id. Phil. 2, 2, 3: dignitati meae, id. Fam. 11, 29, 1: suae vitae, Caes. B. G. 7, 12: receptui sibi, id. B. C. 3, 69: reipublicae juxta ac sibi, Sall. C. 37, 8; id. J. 58, 2; Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 1: timori magis quam religioni, Caes. B. C. 1, 67; cf.: magis irae quam famae, Sall. C. 51, 7: qui mi consultum optime velit esse, Ter. Phorm. 1, 3, 1: mi ires consultum male? to counsel evil or badly, Plaut. Bacch. 3, 6, 36; so, male patriae, Nep. Epam. 10, 1; id. Phoc. 2, 2.
        With si: melius consulet (sibi), si, etc., Cels. 1, 3, 55.
    2. B. Act.
      1. 1. Consulere aliquem (or aliquid), to consult with one, to ask his opinion or advice, to ask counsel of, to consult, question (for the sake of advice).
        1. a. In gen.: cum te consuluissem, quid mihi faciendum esse censeres, Cic. Fam. 11, 29, 1: te, qui philosophum audis, id. ib. 9, 26, 1: Apellem tragoedum, uter, etc., Suet. Calig. 33 al.
          Of inanim. objects: speculum suum, Ov. A. A. 3, 136; cf.: spectatas undas, quid se deceat, id. M. 4, 312: nares, an olerent aera Corinthōn, Mart. 9, 60, 11: diem de gemmis, etc., Ov. A. A. 1, 251 sq.: animum nostrum, Quint. 4, 2, 52: aures meas, id. 9, 4, 93: suas vires, id. 10, 2, 18 al.
          With two accs.: ibo et consulam hanc rem amicos, quid faciundum censeant, Plaut. Men. 4, 3, 26: nec te id consulo, Cic. Att. 7, 20, 2: consulere prudentiorem coepi aetates tabularum, Petr. 88.
          Freq.,
        2. b. Esp. as t. t.
          1. (α) In the lang. of religion, to consult a deity, an oracle, omens, etc.: Apollinem de re, Cic. Leg. 2, 16, 40: deum consuluit auguriis, quae suscipienda essent, Liv. 1, 20, 7: deos hominum fibris, Tac. A. 14, 30 fin.: Phoebi oracula, Ov. M. 3, 9; Suet. Vesp. 5: Tiresiam conjectorem, Plaut. Am. 5, 1, 76: haruspicem, Cic. Div. 2, 4, 11; Suet. Tib. 63; Cato, R. R. 5, 4: vates nunc extis, nunc per aves, Liv. 2, 42, 10: Cumaeam anum, Ov. F. 4, 158: avem primum visam augur, id. ib. 1, 180: spirantia exta, Verg. A. 4, 64; so, trepidantia exta, Ov. M. 15, 576: sacras sortes, id. ib. 11, 412: Etrusci haruspices male consulentes, Gell. 4, 5, 5.
            Pass. impers.: si publice consuletur … sin privatim, Tac. G. 10.
            With dependent question: senatus pontificum collegium consuli jussit, num omne id aurum in ludos consumi necessum esset, Liv. 39, 5, 9: consulti per ludibrium pontifices, an concepto necdum edito partu rite nuberet, Tac. A. 1, 10.
          2. (β) In judic. lang., to ask advice of a lawyer, to consult, etc.: quam inanes domus eorum omnium, qui de jure civili consuli solent, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 46, § 120: consuli quidem te a Caesare scribis: sed ego tibi ab illo consuli mallem, id. Fam. 7, 11, 2: si jus consuleres, peritissimus, Liv. 39, 40, 6: munus hoc eorum qui consuluntur, i. e. who are skilled in the law, Cic. Leg. 1, 4, 14; so id. Quint. 16, 53.
            With dependent question: consulens eum, an seni jam testato suaderet ordinare suprema judicia, Quint. 6, 3, 92.
            The formula usual in asking advice was, licet consulere? Cic. Mur. 13, 28; cf. Hor. S. 2, 3, 192.
          3. (γ) In publicists’ lang., to take counsel with the competent authorities, to consult: Quirites, utrum, etc., Liv. 31, 7, 2; so, senatum, Sall. J. 28, 2: senatum de foedere, id. ib. 39, 2; 62, 10: populum de ejus morte, Cic. Mil. 7, 16: plebem in omnia (tribuni), Liv. 6, 39, 2 al.
      2. 2. Aliquid.
        1. a. To take counsel or deliberate upon something, to consider: est consulere quiddam quod tecum volo, Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 53; id. Pers. 5, 2, 63: rem delatam consulere ordine non licuit, Liv. 2, 28, 2; so, consulere et explorare rem, Cic. Att. 2, 16, 4: consulis rem nulli obscuram, Verg. A. 11, 344 al.: bis repulsi Galli quid agant consulunt, Caes. B. G. 7, 83.
        2. b. To advise something, to give advice: tun’ consulis quicquam? Ter. Ad. 1, 2, 47; id. Phorm. 1, 3, 22.
          Absol.: ab re consulit blandiloquentulus, advises to his hurt, Plaut. Trin. 2, 1, 17.
  2. II. Sometimes meton. (causa pro effectu).
    1. A. To take a resolution, resolve, conclude, determine.
      1. 1. Neutr.; constr. absol. or with de aliquo or in aliquem: de nullis quam de vobis infestius aut inimicius consuluerunt, Liv. 28, 29, 8; so, de perfugis gravius quam de fugitivis, id. 30, 43, 13: in humiliores libidinose crudeliterque consulebatur, id. 3, 36, 7; so, crudeliter in deditos victosque, id. 8, 13, 15; cf. Tac. Agr. 16.
      2. 2. Act.: quid in concilio consuluistis? Plaut. Bacch. 1, 1, 6: animum ego inducam tamen, ut illud, quod tuam in rem bene conducat, consulam, id. Cist. 3, 4: ne quid gravius de salute tuā consulas, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 16, 1: pessime istuc in te atque in illum consulis, Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 28: quae reges irā inpulsi male consuluerint, Sall. C. 51, 4: nisi quod de uxore potuit honestius consuli, id. J. 95, 3.
        Pass. impers.: aliter mihi de illis ac de me ipso consulendum est, Cic. Att. 7, 13, 3.
    2. B. With the access. idea of judging, in the connection boni, optimi aliquid consulere, to excuse, take in good part, interpret favorably; be contented, pleased, or satisfied with: sit consul a consulendo vel a judicando: nam et hoc consulere veteres vocaverunt, unde adhuc remanet illud Rogat boni consulas, id est bonum judices, Quint. 1, 6, 32; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 41, 8 Müll.: nemo hoc rex ausus est facere, eane fieri bonis, bono genere gnatis boni consulitis? Cato ap. Gell. 10, 3, 17: boni consulendum, Varr. L. L. 7, § 40 Müll.: tu haec quaeso consule missa boni, Ov. P. 3, 8, 24; cf. id. Tr. 4, 1, 106; so, nostrum laborem, Quint. 6, prooem. § 16; Plin. Ep. 7, 12, 3: hoc munus, Sen. Ben. 1, 1, 8; id. Prov. 2, 4; id. Ep. 9, 20; 17, 9; 88, 17: quaerebat argentum avaritia: boni consuluit interim invenisse minium, Plin. 33, prooem. 2, § 4; 8, 16, 17, § 44: boni et optimi consulere, App. M. 8, p. 205, 28.
      Hence,
      1. 1. consultus, a, um, P. a.
    1. A. Well considered or weighed, deliberated upon, maturely pondered: bene consultum consilium surripitur saepissume, si minus, etc., Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 5 sq.: ipsi omnia, quorum negotium est, consulta ad nos et exquisita deferunt, Cic. de Or. 1, 58, 250: neque eam usquam invenio, neque quo eam, neque quā quaeram consultum’st, I know neither, etc., Plaut. Rud. 1, 4, 6: operā consultā, with mature reflection, Gell. 7 (6), 17, 3; in the same sense, consulto consilio, Paul. Sent. 1, 9, 6: consultius est huic poenalem quoque stipulationem subjungere, it is better. more advantageous, Dig. 2, 15, 15.
    2. B. (Acc. to I. B. 1.) Knowing, skilful, experienced, practised, esp. in law; skilled or learned in the law: non ille magis juris consultus quam justitiae fuit, Cic. Phil. 9, 5, 10: juris atque eloquentiae, Liv. 10, 22, 7: consultissimus vir omnis divini atque humani juris, id. 1, 18, 1; cf. Gell. 1, 13, 10: insanientis sapientiae, Hor. C. 1, 34, 3: universae disciplinae, Col. 11, 1, 12.
      Hence, subst.: consultus, i, m., a lawyer: tu consultus modo rusticus, Hor. S. 1, 1, 17; id. Ep 2, 2, 87; 2, 2, 159; Ov. A. A. 1, 83.
      Esp. with juris, often written as one word, jūrisconsultus, i, m., v. h. v.
      Absol.: ut natura non disciplinā consultus esse videatur, Cic. Caecin. 27, 78: consultorum alterum disertissimum, disertorum alterum consultissimum fuisse, id. Brut. 40, 148: consultiores sibimet videntur Deo, Tert. adv. Marc. 2, 2.
      1. 2. Subst.: consultum, i, n.
    1. A. (Acc. to I. B. 1. b.) A consultation, inquiry of a deity: Sostratus (sacerdos) ubi laeta et congruentia exta magnisque consultis annuere deam videt, etc., Tac. H. 2, 4.
    2. B. (Acc. to II.) A decree, decision, resolution, plan; so first, Senatus consultum, or in one word, Senatusconsul-tum, a decree of the Senate (most freq. in all periods; the senatus consulta were not, like the plebiscita, the supreme law of the republic; but under the emperors, all new laws took this form, v. esp. Sandars, Introd., Just. Inst. § 15; 1, 2, 5), Sall. C. 42, 3; Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 66, § 149: senatus consultum est quod senatus jubet atque constituit, nam cum auctus esset populus Romanus … aequum visum est senatum vice populi consuli, Just. Inst. 1, 2, 5; for which, consulta Patrum, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 41.
      Of a decree of the Sicilian council: ne senatus consultum Siculi homines facere possent, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 65, § 146.
      Also in other connections: facta et consulta fortium et sapientium, Cic. Leg. 1, 24, 62; cf.: facta consultaque Alexandri, Sall. H. 3, 7 Dietsch: consulta et decreta, id. J. 11, 5: consulta sese omnia cum illo integra habere, all objects of consultation, plans, id. ib. 108, 2; cf.: ab occultis cavendum hominibus consultisque, plans, Liv. 25, 16, 4; and: approbare collegam consulta, id. 10, 39, 10: dum consulta petis, responses, oracles, divinations, Verg. A. 6, 151: tua magna, decisions, id. ib. 11, 410; so, mollia, Tac. A. 1, 40: mala, id. ib. 6, 6: ex consulto factum, purposely, voluntarily, Auct. Her. 2, 30, 49.
      Hence, adv., considerately, deliberately, designedly, on purpose.
          1. (α) Form consultō (class. in prose and poetry): utrum perturbatione aliquā animi an consulto et cogitata fiat injuria, Cic. Off. 1, 8, 27; Plaut. Poen. 3, 5, 43; Cic. N. D. 1, 31, 85; id. Leg. 1, 8, 25; Caes. B. G. 5, 16; 5, 37; Sall. J. 60, 5; 64, 5; Quint. 8, 4, 19; Tac. A. 4, 16; Suet. Caes. 56; * Hor. S. 1, 10, 14 al.
          2. (β) Form consultē (mostly ante- and post-class.): qui consulte, docte atque astute cavet, Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 14: caute atque consulte gesta, Liv. 22, 38, 11; Spart. Had. 2.
            Comp., Liv. 22, 24, 3; Tac. H. 2, 24.
            Sup., Capitol. Pert. 7.