1. augustus, a, um, adj. [from augeo, as angustus from ango; v. augeo], originally belonging to the language of religion, majestic, august, venerable, worthy of honor (class. in prose and poetry; in Cic. mostly in connection with sanctus; never in Plaut., Ter., Lucr, or Hor.; syn.: magnus, venerabilis, venerandus): sancta vocant augusta patres: augusta vocantur Templa, sacerdotum rite dicata manu, Ov. F. 1, 609 sq.: Πάντα γὰρ τὰ ἐντιμόταγα και τα ἱερωτατα Αὔγουστα προσαγορευεται, Dio Cass. 53, 16: augurium, Enn. ap. Varr. R. R. 3, 1, 2 (Ann. v. 494 Vahl.): Cives ominibus faustis augustam adhibeant Faventiam, Att. ap. Non. p. 206, 1, and p. 357, 15 (Trag. Rel. p. 202 Rib.): Eleusis sancta illa et augusta, Cic. N. D. 1, 42, 119: sanctus augustusque fons, id. Tusc. 5, 12, 37: Liber, qui augusta haec loca Cithaeronis colis, auct. inc., Trag. Rel. p. 268 Rib.: locus augustus, Suet. Dom. 53: templum, Liv. 1, 29, 5; 42, 3, 6: augustissimo et celeberrimo in templo, id. 42, 12, 6: fanum, id. 38, 13, 1: solum, id. 45, 5, 3: moenia, Verg. A. 7, 153 (augurio consecrata, Serv.); so, gravitas (caelestium), Ov. M. 6, 73; 9, 270: mens, id. ib. 15, 145 et saep.
Transf. to other things (so most freq. after the Aug. per.): tectum augustum, ingens, Verg. A. 7, 170.
Of bees: sedes, Verg. G. 4, 228 (augustum: abusive, nobile, quasi majestatis plenum, Serv.): ut primordia urbium augustiora faciat, Liv. praef § 5: habitus formaque viri, id 1, 7, 9; so, species, id. 8, 6, 9: conspectus, id. 8, 9, 10: ornatus habitusque, id. 5, 41, 8: augustissima vestis, id. 5, 41, 2: augustior currus, Plin. Pan. 92, 5: augustissimum tribunal, id. ib. 60, 2 al.
Adv.: augustē, reverently, sacredly: auguste sancteque consecrare, Cic. N. D. 2, 24, 62 auguste sancteque venerari, id. ib. 3, 21, 53.
Comp non quo de religione dici posset augustius, Cic. Brut. 21, 83.
Sup. prob. not in use