Lewis & Short

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1. constantĭa, ae, f. [1. constans].

  1. I. A firm standing, steadiness, firmness, immutability, unchangeableness, constancy, perseverance (in good prose; esp. freq. in Cic.): (stellarum) perennes cursus atque perpetui cum admirabili incredibilique constantiā, Cic. N. D. 2, 21, 55; cf. id. ib. § 56, and 3, 9, 23: dictorum conventorumque, id. Off. 1, 7, 23; cf. promissi, id. Att. 4, 19 (17), 1: tantā constantiā vocis atque voltūs, Nep. Att. 22, 1: perseverantia constantiaque oppugnandi, Auct. B. Alex. 26.
  2. II. Trop., agreement, harmony, symmetry, consistency: testimoniorum, Auct. Her. 2, 6, 9: ordo et constantia et moderatio dictorum omnium atque factorum, Cic. Off. 1, 28, 98: non ex singulis vocibus philosophi spectandi sunt, sed ex perpetuitate atque constantiā, id. Tusc. 5, 10, 31: in quibus (orationibus) forsitan magis requiratur constantia, id. Clu. 51, 141; cf.: constantiae causā, for consistency’s sake, id. ib. 2, 2, 5: quae autem est inter augures conveniens et conjuncta constantia? id. Div. 2, 39, 82: officii, id. Sull. 1, 2.
      1. 2. Firmness of character, steadfastness, immovability, constancy, self-possession: is, qui moderatione et constantiā quietus animo est sibi ipse placatus, ut nec tabescat molestiis, etc., Cic. Tusc. 4, 17, 37; cf. id. ib. 4, 17, 38: Catoni cum incredibilem tribuisset natura gravitatem, eamque ipse perpetuā constantiā roborasset semperque in proposito susceptoque consilio permansisset, etc., id. Off. 1, 31, 112: si soceri Scauri constantiam (ceperis), id. Verr. 1, 17, 52: benevolentiam, non … ardore quodam amoris, sed stabilitate potius et constantiā judicemus, id. Off. 1, 15, 47: firmamentum constantiae est fides, id. Lael. 18, 65: hinc constantia, illinc furor, id. Cat. 2, 11, 25; id. Sest. 41, 88; id. Phil. 7, 4, 14; id. Off. 1, 28, 98; Nep. Thras. 1, 1; Hor. Epod. 15, 15; Liv. 42, 62, 11: de eorum fide constantiāque dubitatis? Caes. B. G. 7, 77; Brut. ap. Cic. Ep. ad Brut. 1, 16, 10: animi, Ov. M. 11, 293: morum, Tac. H. 3, 86; id. A. 13, 30 fin.; Sen. Const. Sap. 1, 1 sqq.: sunt et alia ingenita quaedam adjumenta vox, latus, patiens laboris valetudo, constantia, decor, i. e. natural firmness, intrepidity, Quint. prooem. § 27 Meyer.; cf. id. 6, prooem. § 11; 12, 5, 2.
        Acc. to the notions of the Stoics, = εὐπάθεια; in plur.: sic quattuor perturbationes sunt, tres constantiae ( = εὐπαθείας τρεῖς, Diog. L. 7, 115), Cic. Tusc. 4, 6, 14; cf. Aug. Civ. Dei, 14, 8.

con-sto, stĭti, stātum (constātūrus, Sen. Clem. 1, 19, 3; Plin. 18, 5, 6, § 30; Luc. 2, 17; Mart. 10, 41, 5; Lact. Opif. Dei, 7, 11), 1, v. n.

  1. I. To stand together, stand with some person or thing.
    1. A. Lit. (very rare): constant, conserunt sermones inter se drapetae, Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 11.
    2. B. Trop., to stand with, to agree with, be in accord or agreement, to correspond, fit.
      1. 1. With cum and abl. (cf. consisto, II. B. 3.): considerabit, constetne oratio aut cum re aut ipsa secum, Cic. Inv. 2, 14, 45: sententiā non constare cum superioribus et inferioribus sententiis, etc., Auct. Her. 2, 10, 14.
      2. 2. Absol.: veri similis narratio erit, si spatia temporum, personarum dignitates, consiliorum rationes, locorum opportunitates constabunt, Auct. Her. 1, 9, 16.
      3. 3. With dat.: si humanitati tuae constare voles, Cic. Att. 1, 11, 1.
        And esp. with sibi, to agree, accord with itself, to remain like one’s self, be consistent: in Oppianico sibi constare et superioribus consentire judiciis debuerunt, Cic. Clu. 22, 60; so, with consentire, id. Univ. 3 init.; id. Fin. 2, 11, 35: ut constare in vitae perpetuitate possimus nobismetipsis nec in ullo officio claudicare, id. Off. 1, 33, 119; so, sibi (opp. titubare), Quint. 5, 7, 11: sibi et rei judicatae, Cic. Clu. 38, 106: sibi, Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 16; id. A. P. 127; cf.: constat idem omnibus sermo, Liv. 9, 2, 3.
      4. 4. In the phrase ratio constat, mercantile t. t., the account agrees or is correct, is or proves right: auri ratio constat: aurum in aerario est, Cic. Fl. 28, 69: quibus ratio impensarum constaret, was correct, accurately kept, Suet. Ner. 30.
          1. (β) In postAug. prose, esp. in the younger Pliny, transf. from the sphere of business: mirum est, quam singulis diebus in urbe ratio aut constet aut constare videatur, Plin. Ep. 1, 9, 1; cf. id. ib. 1, 5, 16; 3, 18, 10; 2, 4, 4; 7, 6, 4; id. Pan. 38, 4; Just. praef. § 5: eam condicionem esse imperandi, ut non aliter ratio constet, quam si uni reddatur, Tac. A. 1, 6 fin.
  2. II. With the access. idea of firmness, to stand firm, to remain immovable, unchanging, steadfast, to abide, last, endure, persevere, etc. (very freq. in all perr. and styles).
    1. A. In gen.: prius quam totis viribus fulta constaret hostium acies, Liv. 3, 60, 9; cf.: nec pugna deinde illis constare, id. 1, 30, 10: ut non color, non vultus ei constaret, id. 39, 34, 7; cf.: valetudo ei neque corporis neque animi constitit, Suet. Calig. 50; and: dum sanitas constabit, Phaedr. 4, 24, 30: non mentibus solum consipere, sed ne auribus quidem atque oculis satis constare poterant, Liv. 5, 42, 3; cf.: in ebrietate lingua non constat, Sen. Ep. 83, 27: mente vix constare, Cic. Tusc. 4, 17, 39; cf. Liv. 8, 19, 6; 44, 20, 7: quā in sententia si constare voluissent, Cic. Fam. 1, 9, 14; cf. Caes. B. G. 5, 36 fin.: numerus legionum constat, id. ib. 7, 35: ceteris exercitibus constare fidem, Tac. H. 2, 96: utrimque fides constitit, kept their word, Liv. 37, 32, 13; 2, 13, 9.
      Poet.: cum sint huc forsitan illa, Haec translata illuc; summā tamen omnia constant, i. e. the principal sum remains always the same, Ov. M. 15, 258: postquam cuncta videt caelo constare sereno, every thing continues in unbroken serenity, Verg. A. 3, 518: constitit in nullā qui fuit ante color, Ov. A. A. 1, 120.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. Milit. t. t., to stop, halt: multitudinem procul hostium constare videtur, Sisenn. ap. Non. p. 273, 4.
      2. 2. Of facts, reports, etc., to be established, settled, certain, manifest, evident, well known: quae cum constent, perspicuum debet esse, etc., Cic. Tusc. 1, 17, 40: eorum quae constant exempla ponemus, horum quae dubia sunt, exempla adferemus, id. mv 1, 38, 68: quod nihil nobis constat, Caes. B. G. 7, 5: cum et factum constet et nomen, qualia sint vocatur in dubium, Cic. Part. Or. 12, 42; cf.: cum factum constat, sed a quo sit factum in controversiam venit, Quint. 7, 2, 8; and impers., with acc. and inf.: mihi multa agitanti constabat, paucorum civium egregiam virtutem cuncta patravisse, Sall. C. 53, 4; cf.: quod omnibus constabat, hiemari in Gallia oportere, Caes. B. G. 4, 29 fin., and Cic. Clu. 13, 38.
        1. b. Constat (constabat, constabit, etc., it is settled, established, undisputed, certain, well known, etc.), Cic. Mil. 6, 14; id. Quint. 29, 89; Caes. B. G. 3, 6; 3, 9 al.; Ov. M. 7, 533; Quint. 4, 2, 90 et saep.
          So freq.: constat inter omnes, with acc. and inf., all agree, all are convinced: sed tum nimis inter omnis constabat neminem esse resalutatum, Cic. Phil. 2, 41, 106: quae propositio in se quiddam continet perspicuum et quod constare inter omnis necesse est, hanc velle approbare et firmare nihil attinet, in which all must agree, id. Inv. 1, 36, 62 dub. (B. and K. stare); Caes. B. G. 7, 44; Nep. Alcib. 1, 1; Quint. 6, 1, 8 et saep.; cf. also: constare inter homines sapientissimos (for which, just after: omnium consensu sic esse judicatum), Cic. de Or. 3, 1, 3: inter suos, Caes. B. G. 7, 47: inter augures, Liv 10, 6, 7 et saep.: cum de Magio constet, Cic. Att. 13, 10, 3; cf.: de facto constat, Quint. 7, 2, 7; so with de, id. 7, 2, 11; 4, 2, 5: etsi non satis mihi constiterat, cum aliquāne animi mei molestiā an potius, etc., Cic. Fam. 13, 1, 1: nec satis certum constare apud animum poterat, utrum, etc., Liv. 30, 28, 1: quid cuique sit opus constare decet, Quint. 3, 9, 8; so id. 3, 8, 25: quid porro quaerendum est? Factumne sit? At constat. A quo? At patet, Cic. Mil. 6, 15; so absol., id. Verr. 2, 3, 21, § 54.
      3. 3. Of a resolve.
          1. (α) Impers.: mihi (ei) constat, = certum est, it is my (his) fixed determination, I am determined, I am fully resolved (rare): mihi quidem constat, nec meam contumeliam, nec meorum ferre, Anton. ap. Cic. Phil. 13, 19, 42: neque satis Bruto neque tribunis militum constabat, quid agerent, were undecided, Caes. B. G. 3, 14: ut nihil ei constet quod agat, Cic. Tusc. 4, 15, 35.
          2. (β) With the resolve as subject: animo constat sententia, Verg. A. 5, 748: cum constitit consilium, when my mind was fully made up, Cic. Att. 8, 11, 1.
      4. 4. In gen., as opp. to that which has no existence, to exist, be, abide (esp. in Lucr.): (corpora) quoniam fragili naturā praedita constant, Lucr. 1, 582; 1, 246; 1, 510 et saep.: antiquissimi fere sunt, quorum quidem scripta constent, Cic. de Or. 2, 22, 93; id. Verr. 2, 2, 76, § 187: qui sine manibus et pedibus constare deum posse decreverunt, id. N. D. 1, 33, 92: si ipsa mens constare potest vacans corpore, id. ib. 1, 10, 25.
      5. 5. With ex, in, de, or the abl. (in Cic. only with ex; cf. Madv. ad Cic. Fin. 4, 8, 19), to consist in or of, to be composed of, to rest upon something, etc.
          1. (α) With ex (very freq. in prose and poetry): fulminis ignem e parvis constare figuris, Lucr. 2, 385: homo ex animo constat et corpore, Cic. N. D. 1, 35, 98; id. Fin. l. l.: simplex (jus) e dulci constat olivo, Hor. S. 2, 4, 64: ea virtus, quae constat ex hominibus tuendis, Cic. Off. 1, 44, 157 et saep.
          2. (β) With in and abl. (very rare): victoriam in earum cohortium virtute constare, Caes. B. C. 3, 89 fin.; Nep. Att. 14 fin.
          3. * (γ) With de: partus duplici de semine, Lucr. 4, 1229.
          4. (δ) With abl. (freq. in Lucr. and Quint.): aeterno quia constant semine quaeque, Lucr. 1, 221; 1, 484; 1, 518 et saep.: agri campis, vineis, etc., Plin. Ep. 3, 19, 5: constat tota oratio longioribus membris, brevioribus periodis, Quint. 9, 4, 134; 5, 10, 63 et saep.: causa constat aut unius rei controversiā aut plurium, id. 3, 10, 1. omnis disciplina memoriā, id. 11, 2, 1. omne jus aut scripto aut moribus, id. 12, 3, 6 et saep.
      6. 6. Mercantile t. t., like our phrase, to stand at, i. e. to cost; constr. with abl.. gen., etc., of price (cf. Zumpt, Gr. § 444).
        1. a. Lit.
          1. (α) With abl.: ut unae quadrigae Romae constiterint quadringentis milibus, Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 14; Suet. Vit. 19: filius auro, Plaut. Truc. 2, 6, 57: navis gratis, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 19, § 48 (al. stare): HS. sex milibus tibi constant, id. ib. 2, 4, 12, § 28: tanto nobis deliciae, Plin. 12, 18, 41, § 84: magno tibi, Plin. Ep. 2, 6, 4: parvo, Pall. Febr. 9, 12; cf. gratis, Sen. Ep. 104, 34; Aug. Serm. 385, 6.
          2. (β) With gen.: (ambulatiuncula) prope dimidio minoris constabit isto loco, Cic. Att. 13, 29, 2; Suet. Ner. 27 fin.: quanti funus, id. Vesp. 19; Juv. 7, 45.
          3. (γ) With adv.: quod mihi constat carius, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 272, 25; so, vilissime, Col. 9, 1. 6.
          4. (δ) With sup.: cujus area super HS. millies constitit, Suet. Caes. 26.
        2. b. Trop.: edocet, quanto detrimento et quot virorum fortium morte necesse sit constare victoriam, Caes. B. G. 7, 19: odia constantia magno, Ov. H. 7, 47: imperia pretio quolibet constant bene, Sen. Phoen. 664.
          Hence, constans, antis, P. a. (acc. to II. 1.), standing firm, firm, unchangeable, constant, immovable, uniform, fixed, stable, invariable (freq. and class.).
    1. A. Lit.: mellis constantior est natura (sc. quam aquae), Lucr. 3, 192: constans uva contra tenorem unum algoris aestusve, Plin. 14, 2, 4, § 27: cujus in indomito constantior inguine nervus, Quam nova arbor, etc., Hor. Epod. 12, 19: cursus certi et constantes, Cic. N. D. 3, 9, 24; cf.: constans reversio stellarum (with conveniens), id. ib. 2, 21, 54: constantissimus motus lunae, id. Div. 2, 6, 17: nihil (mundo) motu constantius, id. N. D. 3, 9, 23; 2, 21, 54: constanti vultu graduque, Liv. 5, 46, 3: aetas, the mature age (of an adult), Cic. Sen. 10, 33; cf.: constans aetas, quae media dicitur, id. ib. 20, 76: aetate nondum constanti, Suet. Galb. 4: pax, firm, secure, Liv. 6, 25, 6: fides, Hor. C. 3, 7, 4: an ire comminus et certare pro Italiā constantius foret, safer, Tac. H. 3, 1.
        1. b. Agreeing or accordant with itself, consistent, harmonious: quemadmodum in oratione constanti, sic in vitā omnia sint apta inter se et convenientia, Cic. Off. 1, 40, 144: nihil intellego dici potuisse constantius, id. Tusc. 5, 9, 25; cf.: incredibilia an inter se constantia, Quint. 5, 4, 2: rumores, Cic. Fam. 12, 9, 1: constans parum memoria hujus anni, Liv. 10, 37, 13: constans fama erat, Suet. Caes. 6; so, opinio, id. Tib. 39; id. Vesp. 4 al.
    2. B. Trop., intellectually or morally certain, sure, steadfast, constant, faithful, steady, unchanging: firmi et stabiles et constantes amici, Cic. Lael. 17, 62; cf. Nep. Lys. 2, 2: quem hominem? Levem? imo gravissimum. Mobilem? imo constantissimum, Cic. Rosc. Com. 16, 49; cf. opp. varium, id. Fragm. ap. Quint. 6, 3, 48 Spald.: pater amens at is quidem fuit omnium constantissimus, a very constant, steadfast man, Cic. Rosc. Am. 14, 41; cf.: prudens et constans (testis), Quint. 5, 7, 26; and under adv.: (Helvidius Priscus) recti pervicax, constans adversus metus, Tac. H. 4, 5 fin.: constans Fortuna tantum in levitate suā, Ov. Tr. 5, 8, 18; cf.: neque fidei constans, neque strenuus in perfidiā, Tac. H. 3, 57: constantior In vitiis, etc., Hor. S. 2, 7, 18.
      Adv.: constanter.
      1. 1. (Acc. to A.) Firmly, immovably, steadily, constantly: manere in suo statu, Cic. Univ. 13: constanter ac perpetuo placet consilium, Brut. ap. Cic. Ep. ad Brut. 1, 16, 9: vitiis gaudere constanter, Hor. S. 2, 7, 6.
        Comp.: ut maneamus in perspicuis firmius et constantius, Cic. Ac. 2, 14, 45.
        Sup.: impetus caeli constantissime conficiens vicissitudinis anniversarias, Cic. N. D. 2, 38, 97.
        1. b. Harmoniously, evenly, uniformly, consistently: constanter et aequaliter ingrediens oratio, Cic. Or. 58, 198: sibi constanter convenienterque dicere, id. Tusc. 5, 9, 26; cf. id. ib. 5, 9, 24; in comp., id. ib. 5, 9, 25; in sup., id. ib. 5, 8, 23; id. Ac. 2, 3, 9; so, hi constanter omnes nuntiaverunt, with one voice, unanimously, Caes. B. G. 2, 2: aequabilius atque constantius sese res humanae haberent, Sall. C. 2, 3: aequabilius atque constantius regere provincias, Tac. A. 15, 21 fin.
      2. 2. (Acc. to B.) Steadily, calmly, tranquilly, sedately: constanter ac non trepide pugnare, Caes. B. G. 3, 25; cf. agere, Auct. B. Afr. 84: proelium inire, Suet. Vesp. 4; id. Tib. 19: constanter et sedate ferre dolorem, Cic. Tusc. 2, 20, 46: constanter et libere se gerere, id. Att. 4, 16, 9: constanter prudenterque fit, id. Tusc. 4, 6, 12: constanter delata beneficia (with judicio, considerate, and opp. repentino quodam impetu), id. Off. 1, 15, 49.
        Comp.: cetera exsequi, Suet. Aug. 10: acrius quam constantius proelium inire, Curt. 4, 6, 14.
        Sup.: amicitias retinere, Suet. Aug. 66; id. Tib. 45 al.