formōsus (FORMONSVS, Inscr. Grut. 669, 10; comp.: FORMONSIOR, Inscr. Fabr. p. 374, no. 169: formonsam, Verg. E. 1, 5 Rib.), a, um, adj. [forma, I. B. 1.], finely formed, beautiful, handsome (freq. and class; syn.: pulcher, speciosus, venustus, bellus).
- A. Of visible subjects: deum rotundum esse volunt, quod ea forma ullam negat esse pulchriorem Plato: at mihi vel cylindri vel quadrati vel coni vel pyramidis videtur esse formosior, Cic. N. D. 1, 10, 24: consideratur in homine, formosus an deformis, id. Inv. 1, 24, 35: virgines formosissimae, id. ib. 2, 1, 2: mulier, Hor. A. P. 4: vis formosa videri, id. C. 4, 13, 3: formosum pastor Corydon ardebat Alexin, Verg. E. 2, 1; cf.: formosi pecoris custos, formosior ipse, id. ib. 5, 44: Galatea hedera formosior alba, id. ib. 7, 38: boves, Ov. A. A. 1, 296: mater haedorum duorum, id. F. 5, 117: arma Sabina, Prop. 4 (5), 4, 32; so, formosius telum jaculabile, Ov. M. 7, 679: arbutus, Prop. 1, 2, 11 (dub.; Müll. felicius): Alcibiades, omnium aetatis suae multo formosissimus, Nep. Alcib. 1, 2: nunc frondent sylvae, nunc formosissimus annus, Verg. E. 3, 57: tempus (i. e. ver), Ov. F. 4, 129: aestas messibus, id. R. Am. 187: lux formosior omnibus Calendis, Mart. 10, 24, 2: habitus formosior, Quint. 9, 4, 8.
Prov.: Formonsa facies muta commendatio est, Pub. Syr. 169 (Rib.).
- B. Rarely of abstr. subjects: nihil est virtute formosius, nihil pulchrius, Cic. Fam. 9, 14, 4.
Adv.: formōse, beautifully (very rare): Cupidinem formosum deum formose cubantem, App. M. 5, p. 168: saltare, id. ib. 6, p. 183: formosius, Quint. 8, 3, 10: formosissime, Aug. Conf. 1, 7.