1. pūbes and pūber (cf. Prisc. p. 707 P.; also pūbis, ĕris, Caes. ib.), ĕris, adj. [root pu-, to beget; in Sanscr. putras, son; pumans, man; cf.: puer, pūpa, putus, etc.], that is grown up, of ripe age, adult, pubescent.
- I. Lit. (class.): pubes et puber qui generare potest: is incipit esse a quattuordecim annis: femina a duodecim viri potens, sive patiens, ut quidam putant, Fest. p. 250 Müll.; Crass. ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 55, 224: filii, Cic. Off. 1, 35, 129: priusquam pubes esset, Nep. Dion, 4, 4: ad puberem aetatem, Liv. 1, 3.
- B. Subst.: pūbĕres, um, m., grown-up persons, adults, men (cf.: adulescens, ephebus): omnes puberes armati convenire consuerunt, Caes. B. G. 5, 56; id. B. C. 2, 13; 3, 9; Sall. J. 26, 3; 54, 6; Tac. A. 13, 39.
Sing. collect.: omnem Italiae pubem commiserat, Cic. Mil. 23, 61; Liv. 1, 9, 6; Suet. Ner. 43; Tac. H. 2, 47.
Rarely, of one person, a youth: ne praejudicium fiat impuberi per puberis personam, Dig. 37, 10, 3, § 8.
- II. Transf., of plants, covered with soft down, downy, pubescent, ripe: folia, Verg. A. 12, 413: uvae, Front. Ep. ad M. Caes. 4, 4 Mai.