in-frĕquens, tis, adj., that does not often or frequently take place, unfrequent.
- I. Lit., of persons, that is not often at a place, that seldom does a thing, seldom, rare: sum et Romae et in praedio infrequens, Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 9, 4: parcus deorum cultor et infrequens, unfrequent, Hor. C. 1, 34, 1: exercitus, thinned by furloughs, Liv. 43, 11, 10: miles, that does not appear regularly at his standard, Paul. ex Fest. p. 112 Müll.; cf. Gell. 16, 4, 5.
Hence: pro infrequente eum mittat militia domum (meretrix), of a lover, who makes few presents, Plaut. Truc. 2, 1, 19.
- II. Transf., that does not often happen, that is seldom used, rare, unusual: cum Appius senatum infrequentem coëgisset, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 12: eae copiae ipsae hoc infrequentiores imponuntur, Caes. B. C. 3, 2: interdictum, Dig. 43, 31, 1: usus, Gell. 9, 12, 19: vocabulum, id. 2, 22, 2: infrequentissima urbis, the parts least inhabited, Liv. 31, 23, 4: causa, which is attended by few hearers, Cic. de Or. 2, 79, 320.
- B. Usually with abl. or gen., not filled with, not well provided with, not acquainted with any thing: altera pars (urbis) infrequens aedificiis, Liv. 37, 32: signa infrequentia armatis, to which but few soldiers belong, id. 10, 20.
Also absol.: infrequentia signa, Liv. 7, 8: rei militaris te reddidisti infrequentem, inexperienced, Auct. Her. 4, 27, 37; with little knowledge of, unskilled in: vocum Latinarum, Gell. 13, 24, 4.
Hence, adv.: infrĕquenter, rarely (late Lat.), Ambros. Ep. 35.