Lewis & Short

† pŏēta, ae (POETES, Inscr. Orell. 1163), m., = ποιητής.

  1. I. In gen., a maker, producer (ante-class.): nec fallaciam Astutiorem ullus fecit poëta, a contriver, trickster, Plaut. Cas. 5, 1, 7: tu poëta es prorsus ad eam rem unicus, you are just fit for it, id. As. 4, 1, 3.
  2. II. In partic., a poet (class.; syn. vates): visus Homerus adesse poëta, Enn. ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 16, 51 (Ann. v. 6 Vahl.); Cic. de Or. 2, 46, 194: oratores et poëtae, id. ib. 3, 10, 39: versificator quam poëta melior, Quint. 10, 1, 89: pictoribus atque poëtis Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas, Hor. A. P. 9: expectes eadem a summo minimoque poëtā, Juv. 1, 14: judex absolvit injuriarum eum, qui Lucilium poëtam in scenā nominatim laeserat, Auct. Her. 2, 3, 19: unum (genus deorum) a poëtis traditum, Aug. Civ. Dei, 4, 27 init.