Lewis & Short

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callĕo, ēre, v. n. and a. [callum].

  1. I. Neutr.
    1. A. Lit., to be callous, to be thickskinned (rare): plagis costae callent, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 4; Caecil. ap. Non. p. 258, 10: callent rure manus, Auct. Aetn. 260; Plin. 11, 37, 84, § 211.
    2. B. Trop.
      1. * 1. To be hardened, insensible, unfeeling: in illis rebus exercitatus animus callere jam debet atque omnia minoris existimare, Serv. Sulp. ap. Cic. Fam. 4, 5, 2; cf. callisco.
      2. 2. To be practised, to be wise by experience, to be skilful, versed in; in a pun on the literal sense A. supra: callum aprugnum callere aeque non sinam, Plaut. Poen. 3, 2, 2; cf. id. ib. v. 1; so id. Pers. 2, 5, 4: omnes homines ad suum quaestum callent, id. Truc. 5, 40 (cf. id. ib. 2, 4, 62: callidus ad quaestum); Amm. 15, 2, 4: melius quam viri callent mulieres, Att. ap. Non. p. 257, 31 (Trag. Rel. v. 28 Rib.): satin’ astu et fallendo callet? id. ib. p. 258, 6 (Trag. Rel. v. 475 ib.): quod periti sumus in vitā atque usu callemus magis, id. ib. 258, 5: si in re navali, cujus esset ignarus, offendisset, eo plus in ea, quorum usu calleret, spei nactus, Liv. 35, 26, 10: cottidiano usu ejus (negotii) callebant, Val. Max. 8, 12, 1; Plin. 8, 25, 38, § 91; 9, 29, 46, § 86: augurandi studio Galli praeter caeteros callent, Just. 24, 4, 3: arte, Ser. ap. Non. p. 258, 2; Sol. 8: bellis callere, by military experience, Sil. 6, 90 sq.: fidibus, App. Flor. n. 18.
  2. II. Act., to know by experience or practice, to know, have the knowledge of, understand (freq., esp. in the poets; in Cic. very rare): memini et scio et calleo et commemini, Plaut. Pers. 2, 1, 8; cf. id. ib. 3, 1, 52; id. Poen. 3, 1, 71: cuncta perdocte callet, id. Most. 1, 3, 122: alicujus sensum, Ter. Ad. 4, 1, 17: istaec malitiosa non tam calleo, Afran. ap. Non. p. 482, 10 (Com. Rel. v. 124 Rib.): in colubras callet cantiunculam, Pompon. ib. 482, 9 (Com. Rel. v. 118 ib.): jura, Cic. Balb. 14, 32; Gell. 16, 10, 3: urbanas rusticasque res pariter, Liv. 39, 40, 4: artem, Tac. A. 13, 3: legitimum sonum digitis callemus et aure, Hor. A. P. 274 al.
          1. (β) With inf. as object: multaque de rerum mixturā dicere callent, * Lucr. 2, 978; Hor. C. 4, 9, 49; Juv. 4, 142; Pers. 5, 105.
          2. (γ) With acc. and inf.: quem Marcellini consiliarium fuisse callebant, Sisenn. ap. Non. p. 258, 8.
          3. (δ) With rel.-clause: quo pacto id fieri soleat, calleo, Ter. Heaut. 3, 2, 37.
            Hence, callens, entis, P. a., acquainted with, versed in, skilful, expert (very rare): qui sunt vaticinandi callentes, Plin. 21, 31, 105, § 182: utriusque linguae, Gell. 17, 5, 3: bellandi, Amm. 16, 12, 32.
            * Adv.: callenter, skilfully, cunningly; for the class. callide, App. M. 4, p. 150, 3.