proelĭum (prael-), ii, n. [etym. dub.; perh. for provilium, pro-dvilium; cf. duellum (bellum)], a battle, combat (class.; syn.: pugna, dimicatio).
- I. Lit.: induperatores pugnare ac proelia obire, Lucr. 4, 967: non proeliis, neque acie bellum gerere, Sall. J. 54, 5: exitus proeliorum, Cic. Fam. 6, 4, 1: proelium facere, to engage, id. Tusc. 4, 19, 43: inire, Liv. 25, 38: committere cum aliquo, Cic. Div. 1, 35, 77: redintegrare, Caes. B. G. 1, 25: restituere, id. ib. 53: conficere, Hirt. B. G. 8, 28: miscere, Prop. 4 (5), 1, 28: proelio dimicare cum hoste, Cic. N. D. 2, 2, 6: proeliis decertare, id. Prov. Cons. 13, 33: proelium sumere, to join battle, engage, Tac. H. 2, 42: singulare, single combat, Aus. Per. Iliad. 7: Punica passi proelia, the wars with Carthage, Juv. 14, 162.
- B. Transf.
- 1. Of animals (poet.): proelia dant cervi, Verg. G. 3, 265: (taurorum), id. ib. 3, 220; cf. Hor. C. 3, 20, 4; 3, 13, 5.
- 2. Of inanimate subjects (poet.): ventorum proelia, Verg. G. 1, 318.
- 3. A warrior: Colchis flagrantes adamantina sub juga tauros Egit et armigera proelia sevit humo, Prop. 3, 11 (4, 10), 10: trepidum si Martis operti agricolam infandis condentem proelia sulcis expediam, Stat. Th. 1, 8.
- II. Trop.
- A. Contest, strife (class.): proelia te meā causā sustinere, Cic. Fam. 9, 11, 2: committere proelia voce, Ov. M. 5, 307; id. Am. 1, 8, 96.
Humorously, of a struggle with food and drink: in eo uterque proelio potabimus, Plaut. Men. 1, 3, 3: sed quid cessamus proelium committere? id. Pers. 1, 3, 32.
- B. In mal. part., Prop. 2, 1, 45: veneris, App. M. 5, p. 168, 6.