dĕcor, ōris, m. [deceo], what is seemly, becoming; comeliness, elegance, grace, beauty, ornament (poet. word; in prose perh. not before the Aug. per.; esp. freq. in Quint.; v. decus).
- I. In gen.: Mobilibusque decor naturis dandus et annis, Hor. A. P. 157; cf.: suus cuique decor est, Quint. 10, 2, 22; cf. also decor quoque a gestu atque a motu venit, id. 11, 3, 67; and est et in incessu pars non temnenda decoris, etc., Ov. A. A. 3, 299: divini signa decoris, Verg. A. 5, 647: ovibus sua lana decori est, Ov. M. 13, 849; cf. Prop. 4 (5), 11, 29.
In rhetor. lang.: non decorem compositionis quaerimus, sed facilitatem, Quint. 9, 4, 145; cf. id. 9, 4, 44: quantum fuerit illis viris decoris in rebus atque personis, id. 10, 2, 27 et saep.
In architecture: decor est emendatus operis aspectus probatis rebus compositi cum auctoritate, etc., Vitr. 1, 2.
In plur.: varii scenai, Lucr. 4, 984.
- II. In partic., of personal comeliness, charms, beauty (cf.: decens, no. 2): fugit retro Levis Juventa et Decor, Hor. Od. 2, 11, 6; Tib. 4, 2, 8; Ov. M. 1, 488; Curt. 8, 4, 23; Tac. H. 2, 1 al.; cf. Vulg. Isa. 33, 17; id. Thren. 1, 6.
Note: dĕcor, adj., v. decoris.