vēlōcĭtas, ātis, f. [velox], swiftness, fleetness, speed, rapidity, velocity.
- I. Lit.: velocitate ad cursum valere, Cic. Off. 1, 30, 107: pernicitatem et velocitatem, id. Tusc. 5, 15, 45: velocitas corporis celeritas appellatur, id. ib. 4, 13, 31; Caes. B. G. 6, 28; Hirt. B. G. 8, 36; 8, 48; Quint. 2, 16, 13; 2, 20, 9; Nep. Epam. 2, 3: illa in rebus moliendis velocitas, Curt. 5, 7, 1; 5, 8, 2: velocitate opus est, quā celeritatem famae antecedas, id. 7, 2, 15.
In plur.: non viribus aut velocitatibus aut celeritate corporum res magnae geruntur, sed, etc., Cic. Sen. 6, 17.
- II. Trop. (so perh. only post-Aug.): velocitas cogitationum animique celeritas, Plin. 7, 12, 10, § 52: animi exercitata studio, Quint. 5, 10, 123: mali, Tac. A. 15, 38: occasionum, id. H. 1, 83: sagacitatis, Val. Max. 7, 3, 4.
Of speech, style, rapidity: immortalis illa Sallustii, Quint. 10, 1, 102; 9, 4, 83; 10, 7, 8.