vŏlātĭlis, e, adj. [2. volo], flying, winged (class.; cf. ales).
- I. Lit.: bestiae, Cic. N. D. 2, 60, 151: puer, i. e. Cupid, Ov. Am. 2, 7, 27.
Subst.: vŏlātĭlĕ, is, n., a fowl (late Lat.): omnia volatilia caeli, Vulg. Ezek. 32, 4: omne volatile, id. Gen. 1, 21.
- II. Transf.
- A. Swift, rapid: telum, i. e. an arrow, Lucr. 1, 970; Ov. A. A. 1, 169; id. M. 7, 841: ferrum, Verg. A. 4, 71: cervus, Varr. ap. Non. p. 559, 23, and 515, 20 (al. volabile).
- B. Fleeting, transitory: aetas, Ov. M. 10, 519: gloria vanum et volatile quiddam est aurāque mobilius, Sen. Ep. 123, 15: lepra, changing from one part to another, Vulg. Lev. 13, 57.