Lewis & Short

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fas, indecl. n. [root fa-, cf. for; Gr. φημί, φά-ναι]

  1. I. Orig. belonging to the relig. lang., the dictates of religion, divine law; opp. to jus, or human law (rare; cf. also: aequitas, justitia): jus ac fas omne delere, Cic. Att. 1, 16, 6; cf.: festis quaedam exercere diebus Fas et jura sinunt, Verg. G. 1, 269: contra fas, contra auspicia, contra omnes divinas atque humanas religiones, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 34.
    Personified: audi Juppiter, audite Fines, audiat Fas, Liv. 1, 32, 6: prima deum Fas quae Themis est Graiis, Aus. Technop. Idyll. 12: Fas omne mundi, i. e. the gods, Sen. Here. Fur. 658.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. A court-day, i. q. fastus (ante-class.): dies qui vocatur sic: QVANDO REX COMITIAVIT, FAS, Varr. L. L. 6, §§ 31, 32.
    2. B. In gen. (justice, equity, but usu. to be translated as an adjective), right, proper, allowable, lawful, fit, permitted; hence, possible (the predominant meaning of the word in prose and poetry; esp. freq. in the phrase fas est, with a subjectclause): fas, justum, pium, aequum subjici possunt honestati, Quint. 3, 8, 26: cum fas atque nefas exiguo fine libidinum Discernunt avidi, Hor. C. 1, 18, 10; Ov. M. 6, 585; cf.: quippe ubi fas versum atque nefas, Verg. G. 1, 505; Hor. Epod. 5, 87: jusque fasque est, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 22: si jus, si fas est, Ter. Hec. 3, 3, 27: sicut fas jusque est, Liv. 7, 31, 3: ut eum nihil delectaret, quod aut per naturam fas esset aut per leges liceret, Cic. Mil. 16, 43; cf.: quoad fas esset, quoad liceret, id. Agr. 2, 7, 19; and: huic legi nec obrogari fas est, neque derogari ex hac aliquid licet, id. Rep. 3, 22: si me fas est orare etiam abs te, pater, etc., Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 102: quid non adeptus est, quod homini fas esset optare? Cic. Lael. 3, 11: si eos hoc nomine appellari fas est, id. Mur. 37, 80: non esse fas, Germanos superare, si, etc., Caes. B. G. 1, 50 fin.: neque fas esse existimant, ea litteris mandare, id. ib. 6, 14, 3: ad quos (libellos) interim respicere fas sit, Quint. 10, 7, 31: velut si aliter facere fas non sit, id. 2, 13, 1; 8, 3, 36; 10, 2, 9; 12, 7, 1: nec scire fas est omnia, Hor. C. 4, 4, 22: fas omne est, Cytherea, meis te fidere regnis, there is every reason, Verg. A. 5, 800: si hoc fas est dictu, Cic. Tusc. 5, 13, 38: neque id me facere fas existimo, Plaut. As. 3, 1, 11: fas habere, id. Trin. 2, 2, 11; Quint. 3, 8, 13; Tac. A. 14, 30; id. G. 9: leporem et gallinam et anserem gustare fas non putant, Caes. B. G. 5, 12, 6; 6, 23 fin.: fas prohibet, etc., Ov. Tr. 2, 205: contra quam fas erat, Cic. Clu. 5, 12: ridetque (deus), si mortalis ultra Fas trepidat, Hor. C. 3, 29, 32: fas omne abrumpit, every right, obligation, Verg. A. 3, 55: exuere, Tac. H. 3, 5: et foedera respicere, id. ib. 4, 67; cf.: hostium quoque jus et sacra legationis et fas gentium rupistis, the law of nations, id. A. 1, 42; so in Tac. freq. = jus: patriae, the right, claim of one’s native land, id. ib. 2, 10: armorum, id. H. 4, 58: disciplinae, id. A. 1, 19 al.