Laelĭus, a, name of a Roman gens.
So esp.,
- 1. C. Lælius, a friend of Scipio Africanus: in quo Laeliu’ clamores, σοφὸς ille, solebat Edere, Lucil. ap. Cic. de Fin. 2, 8, 24; cf.: nec dubitare illum (C. Laelium) in omni sermone appellare sapientem, Cic. Lael. 1, 1; id. Brut. 21, 82; cf. Hor. S. 2, 1, 65; 72. Cicero’s treatise on Friendship is named after him.
- 2. D. Lælius, a writer of moderate abilities, Lucil. ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 6, 25.
- 3. Another D. Lælius, perh. a son of the preceding, an adherent of Pompey, Caes. B. C. 3, 40.
In fem.: Laelĭa, ae, daughter of C. Lælius, and mother-in-law of L. Crassus, celebrated for her intellectual culiure, Cic. Brut. 58, 211.
Another Lælia, a Vestal, Tac. A. 15, 22.
Hence, Laelĭā-nus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to a Lælius, Lælian: naves, i. e. of Pompey’s commander, D. Lælius, Caes. B. C. 3, 100, 2.