Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

lĕpus, ŏris, m. (com., Varr. R. R. 3, 12; Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 217;

  1. I. v. infra) [cf. Aeol. and Sicil. λέπορις, collat. form of λαγώς, Varr. L. L. 5, § 101 Müll.; id. R. R. 3, 12; but Curt. compares lepor, lepidus, root in Gr. λάμπω], a hare, Varr. R. R. 3, 12; Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 217: lepus multum somni affert, qui illum edit, Cato ap. Diomed. p. 358 P.; Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 31: auritosque sequi lepores, Verg. G. 1, 308: pavidus, Hor. Epod. 2, 35; id. C. 1, 37, 18: dare semesum leporem, Juv. 5, 167.
    Of the she-hare: lepus cum praegnans sit, Varr. R. R. 3, 12; Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 219; cf.: fecundae leporis, Hor. S. 2, 4, 44 (fecundi, Keller).
    Prov.: aliis leporem exagitare, to hunt the hare for others, i. e. to do something of which others reap the advantage, Petr. 131; cf. Ov. A. A. 3, 661: lepus tute es et pulpamentum quaeris? What! you a hare, and hunting for game?
    In mal. part., Liv. Andron. ap. Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 36; cf. Don. ad h. l. and Vop. Num. 13.
    As a term of endearment: mens pullus passer, mea columba, mi lepus, Plaut. Cas. 1, 50.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. A poisonous seafish, of the color of a hare, the Aplysia depilans, Linn.; Plin. 9, 48, 72, § 155; 32, 1, 3, § 8.
    2. B. The constellation Lepus, Cic. Arat. 365; id. N. D. 2, 44, 114; Hyg. Astr. 3, 22; Manil. 5, 159.