2. captus, ūs, m. [capio].
- I. A taking, seizing; that which is taken or grasped (so post-Aug. and rare): flos (ederae) trium digitorum captu, i. e. as much as one can grasp with three fingers, a pinch, Plin. 24, 10, 47, § 79: piscium vel avium vel missilium, a draught, Dig. 18, 1, 8, § 1: bonorum, Val. Max. 3, 3, ext. 7.
- II. (Acc. to capio, II. B. 4.) Power of comprehension, capacity, notion (this is the usu. class. signif. in the phrase ut est captus alicujus, according to one’s capacity or notion): hic Geta, ut captus est servorum, non malus Neque iners, Ter. Ad. 3, 4, 34 (ut se habet condicio servorum, Don.); so Afran. ap. Don. ib.: civitas ampla atque florens, ut est captus Germanorum, according to German notions ([?W+S GE KATA *GERMANOU/S
?], Metaphr.), Caes. B. G. 4, 3: Graeci homines non satis animosi, prudentes, ut est captus hominum, satis, for this people’s capacity, Cic. Tusc. 2, 27, 65.
With pro or supra (post-class.): pro captu, Gell. 1, 9, 3; App. Mag. p. 277; Cod. Th. 6, 4, 21, § 5: SVPRA CAPTVM, Inscr. Grut. 1120, 7.
- B. Of physical power (very rare): iracundissimae ac pro corporis captu pugnacissimae sunt apes, in proportion to or in view of their bodily size, Sen. Clem. 1, 19, 2.