Lewis & Short

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cŏlŭmen, ĭnis, n., and contr. cul-men, mis, n. [root cel- of excello; cf.: celsus, culmus, calamus, collis], lit., that which rises in height, is prominent, projects; hence the point, top, summit, ridge.

  1. I. Form columen, inis, n. (only this form is used by Plautus, v. Ritschl, prol. ad Plaut. p. 65).
    1. A. An elevated object, a pillar, column: ego vitam agam sub altis Phrygiae columinibus, the lofty buildings, or perh. the mountain-heights, Cat. 63, 71 Ellis ad loc.; and of a pillar of fire: Phoebi fax, tristis nunt a belli, quae magnum ad columen flammato ardore volabat, like an ascending column, Cic. poët. Div. 1, 11, 18.
    2. B. The highest part or top of an object, e. g. of a wall; the coping; Fr. le chaperon, Cato, R. R. 15, 1; of a building, a ridge, a roof, a gable: in turribus et columinibus villae, Varr. R. R. 3, 7, 1: aulae, Sen. Herc. Fur. 1000; id. Thyest. 54 Gron.; so of the Capitol, Cic. poët. Div. 1, 12, 20, and of the culmination of heavenly bodies: oritur Canicula cum Cancro, in columen venit cum Geminis, Nigid. ap. Serv. ad Verg. G. 1, 218.
      1. 2. Trop., the top, crown, summit, first, chief, the height, etc.: columen amicorum Antonii, Cotyla Varius, Cic. Phil. 13, 12, 26: pars haec vitae jam pridem pervenit ad columen, Plin. 15, 15, 17, § 57; Col. 3, 4, 3: audaciae, the crown of impudence, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 211.
  2. G. An elevated object that supports, sustains something; in archit., the top of a gable-end, a gable pillar, a prop, Vitr. 4, 2, 1; 4, 7, 5.
    Esp. freq.,
      1. 2. Trop., a support, prop, stay: familiae, Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 57; Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 76, § 176: senati, praesidium popli, Plaut. Cas. 3, 2, 6; cf. id. Ep. 2, 2, 7: rei publicae, Cic. Sest. 8, 19; Curt. 9, 6, 8: imperii Romani, Div 38, 51, 3: regni Ausonii, Sil. 15, 385: Asiae, Sen. Troad. 6: rerum mearum (Maecenas), Hor. C. 2, 17, 4: doctrinarum, artium (Varro et Nigidius), Gell. 19, 14, 1; Col. 3, 4, 3.
  3. II. culmen, ĭnis, n. (in Cic. only once; cf. the foll. B.; not in Cat., Lucr., or Hor.; in gen. first freq. since the Aug. per.).
    1. * A. Any thing high; poet., of the stalk of a bean, Ov. F. 4, 734.
    2. B. The top, summit, e. g. of a building, a roof, gable, cupola, etc.: columen in summo fastigio culminis, Vitr. 4, 2, 1; Ov. M. 1, 295; 1, 289; Verg. E. 1, 69: tecta domorum, id. A. 2, 446; 2, 458; 4, 186: culmina hominum, deorum, i. e. of houses and temples, id. ib. 4, 671; Liv. 27, 4, 11; 42, 3, 7.
      Of the dome of heaven, * Cic. Arat. 26.
      Of mountain summits: Alpium, Caes. B. G. 3, 2: Tarpeium, Suet. Dom. 23.
      Of the crown of the head of men, Liv. 1, 34, 9.
      Of the top of the prow of a ship, Luc. 3, 709.
      1. 2. Trop., the summit, acme, height, point of culmination (perh. not ante-Aug.): a summo culmine fortunae ad ultimum finem, Liv. 45, 9, 7: principium culmenque (columenque, Sillig) omnium rerum pretii margaritae tenent, Plin. 9, 35, 54, § 106: ruit alta a culmine Troja, Verg. A. 2, 290 (Hom. Il. 13, 772: κατ’ ἄκρης); cf. id. ib. 2, 603: de summo culmine lapsus, Luc. 8, 8: regale, Claud. VI. Cons. Hon. 64. pastorale, id. B. Get. 355: honoris, App. Flor. 3.