laetĭtĭa, ae, f. [laetus-facio], joy, esp. unrestrained joyfulness, gladness, pleasure, delight (cf.: gaudium, hilaritas).
- I. Lit.: laetitia opinio recens boni praesentis, in quo efferri rectum esse videatur, Cic. Tusc. 4, 7, 14: laetitia dicitur exsultatio quaedam animi gaudio efferventior eventu rerum expetitarum, Gell. 2, 27, 3: judicium plenum laetitiae, Cic. de Or. 1, 57, 243: percipere laetitiam ex re, id. ib. 1, 44, 197: prae laetitia lacrumae prosuliunt mihi, Plaut. Stich. 3, 2, 13: ut mea laetitia laetus promiscam siet, id. Ps. 4, 5, 11: totus in laetitiam effusus, wholly dissolved in pleasure, Just. 12, 13, 7: diem perpetuum in laetitia degere, to spend joyfully, Ter. Ad. 4, 1, 6: ne me in laetitiam frustra conicias, id. Heaut. 2, 3, 51: laetitiae dator, i. e. Bacchus, Verg. A. 1, 734: efferri laetitiā, to be transported with joy, Cic. Tusc. 4, 32, 68: exsultare, id. Att. 14, 6, 2: perfrui, id. Cat. 1, 10, 26: afficere aliquem, id. Mil. 28, 77: comitia me laetitiā extulerunt, have rejoiced me exceedingly, id. Fam. 2, 10, 1: laetitiam capere oculis, to enjoy, id. Att. 14, 14, 1: dare alicui, to give delight to, id. Planc. 42, 103: et altera traditur circensis turbae non minus similis veri laetitia, another outbreak of joy, Liv. 45, 1, 6: ut hanc laetitiam nec opinanti primus ei obicerem domi, this cause of joy, Ter. Heaut. 1, 2, 12; cf.: offerre laetitiam alicui, id. Hec. 5, 3, 18.
Esp. of success in love, Prop. 1, 10, 12; 2, 6, 32.
Plur.: quaero quoi ter trinas triplicis tribus demeritas artibus Dem laetitias, Plaut. Ps. 2, 4, 14: incessi omnibus laetitiis laetus, Poët. ap. Cic. Fam. 2, 9, 2.
- II. Transf., pleasing appearance, beauty, grace: membrorum, Stat. Th. 6, 571.
Luxuriance, fertility, of plants: trunci, Col. 4, 24, 12: pabuli, plenty, abundance, Just. 44, 4, 14.
Of a fruitful soil: loci, Col. 4, 21, 2.
Of speech, sweetness, grace: laetitia et pulcritudo orationis, Tac. Or. 20.