Lewis & Short

rōbustus, a, um, adj. [robur].

  1. I. Of oakwood, oaken, oak-: capitulum, Cato, R. R. 18, 4: stipites, id. ib. 18, 8: materia, Varr. R. R. 1, 38, 3; Col. 2, 14, 6: caudices, Plin. 11, 37, 55, § 151: stipites, Liv. 38, 5: fores, Hor. C. 3, 16, 2: plaustra, id. Ep. 2, 2, 74 et saep.: carcer (referring to the Robur in the Roman carcer; v. robur, II. A. 2.), Plaut. Curc. 5, 3, 13; cf. codex, id. Poen. 5, 3, 39.
  2. II. Transf., hard, firm, solid, strong, hardy, lusty, robust (freq. and class.; syn.: valens, nervosus).
    1. A. Lit.: lapides, Plin. 36, 22, 48, § 167: cornua, id. 11, 37, 45, § 125: palmes, id. 17, 22, 35, § 175: cibus, hearty, nourishing, Cels. 2, 18: robustior cibus, id. 2, 18: triticum, Col. 2, 9, 3; Plin. 18, 17, 46, § 166; 18, 30, 72, § 298: robustissima terra, Col. 2, 2, 17: robustissimum solum, id. 1, praef. § 24: robustissima oppida, strongly fortified, Flor. 1, 12, 3.
      Esp. of persons: robusti et valentes satellites, Cic. Agr. 2, 31, 84; cf.: transit in aestatem post ver robustior annus, Fitque valens juvenis, Ov. M. 15, 206: usu atque aetate robustior, Cic. Sull. 16, 47; cf. id. Phil. 5, 16, 43; id. Cat. 2, 9, 20: robustiores vinum bibere, infirmiores aquam, Plin. 27, 4, 10, § 27: moderator aratri, Lucr. 5, 933; 6, 1253; cf. vires, id. 3, 449: puer acri militiā, Hor. C. 3, 2, 2: corpore amplo atque robusto, Suet. Tib. 68: robustissima juventus, id. Ner. 20.
    2. B. Trop., firm, solid, strong, etc.: facilius quod est propositum consequar, si nostram rem, publicam vobis et nascentem et crescentem et adultam et jam firmam atque robustam ostendero, Cic. Rep. 2, 1, 3: solidam et robustam et assiduam frequentiam praebuerunt, id. Planc. 8, 21: res vetustate robustas calumniando pervertere, id. Div. 1, 18, 35; cf.: robusta et solida eloquentia, Quint. 10, 1, 2: robusta et stabilis fortitudo, Cic. Tusc. 4, 23, 51: inveteratum (malum) fit plerumque robustius, id. Phil. 5, 11, 31: quae robustioris improbitatis, id. ib. 2, 25, 63: animus (with magna constantia), id. Off. 1, 20, 67: vox, Plin. 7, 16, 17, § 76: carmen, Pers. 5, 5: amicitiae exempla, Val. Max. 4, 7, 2: populus Romanus, Flor. 2, 1, 1.
      Adv.: rōbustē, stoutly, strongly, firmly, Naz. Pan. ad Constant. 17.
      Comp., Aug. Conf. 8, 11.
      Sup.: robustissime, Cassiod. Var. 12, 21.