sălē̆bra, ae (orig. adj., sc. via), f. [salio], a jolting-place, roughness in a road.
- I. Lit. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): demonstrant astra salebras, Prop. 3, 16 (4, 15), 15; Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 53; Mart. 9, 58, 5: salebris sollicitari, Col. 9, 8, 3.
- II. Transf.: senile guttur salebris spiritŭs praegravavit, irregular breathing, panting, Val. Max. 9, 12, ext. 6.
- III. Trop.
- A. Of speech, harshness, roughness, ruggedness (class.): proclivi currit oratio: venit ad extremum: haeret in salebră, i.e. it sticks fast, Cic. Fin. 5, 28, 84; plur.: Herodotus sine ullis salebris fluit, id. Or. 12, 39: numquam in tantas salebras incidisset, id. Fin. 2, 10, 30; Mart. 11, 90, 2.
- * B. Salebra tristitiae, i. e. a cloud of sadness, Val. Max. 6, 9, ext. 5.