măcĭes, ēi, f. [maceo], leanness, thinness, meagreness (class.).
- I. Lit.
- A. Of living beings and the parts of their bodies: profectus est (ad bellum) Hirtius consul: at quā imbecillitate? quā macie? Cic. Phil. 7, 4, 12; id. Agr. 2, 34, 93: hoc maciem facit, Plin. 30, 7, 20, § 60: reducere ad maciem, id. 24, 8, 30, § 46: equi macie corrupti, * Caes. B. C. 3, 58: corpus macie extabuit, Cic. poët. Tusc. 3, 12, 26: turpis macies decentes Occupet malas, Hor. C. 3, 27, 53: tenet ora profanae Foeda situ macies, Luc. 6, 515: macies aegri veteris, Juv. 9, 16; 15, 101.
- B. Of inanim, things: macies soli, poorness, barrenness, Col. 1, 4, 3: lapidosa aurosi pulveris, Pall. 1, 5, 1: jejuna corticis, id. Mart. 10, 21; so, corticis, Plin. 17, 27, 42, § 252: seges macie deficit, Ov. F. 1, 689.
- II. Transf., of water, diminution: aquarum, e. g. at the ebb, Sol. 23.
- * III. Trop., meagreness, poverty of language, Tac. Or. 21, 1.