ē-mĭnus, adv. [manus; cf. the opp. comminus; lit., hands apart, i. e. not hand to hand], aloof, at fighting distance with missiles, a spear’s-throw off (cf.: longe, procul).
- I. Prop., a milit. t. t., used of fighting with missiles, spears, etc. (class.), mostly opp. comminus: eminus fundis, sagittis reliquisque telis pugnabatur, Caes. B. C. 1, 26. 1; cf. Sall. J. 50, 4; 101, 4; Nep. Alcib. 10, 6; Tac. H. 3, 27; Verg. A. 10, 346; 645; 776; Liv. 38, 21, 13 saep.; of throwing fire, etc.: alii faces de muro in aggerem eminus jaciebant, Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 4.
- II. Transf., in gen., at a distance, from a distance (mostly postAug.): oppugnationem eminus incipere, Tac. A. 13, 41: fer opem eminus unam, Ov. P. 1, 6, 17; id. Her. 16, 40; Lucr. 6, 904; 7, 650.