Lewis & Short

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2. cultus, ūs, m. [1. colo].

  1. I. Prop., a laboring at, labor, care, cultivation, culture (rare): quod est tam asperum saxetum, in quo agricolarum cultus non elaboret? Cic. Agr. 2, 25, 66: agricolae, id. Leg. 1, 1, 1: agrorum, Liv. 4, 12, 7; Quint. prooem. § 26; cf. id. 8, 3, 75: (oves) neque sustentari neque ullum fructum edere ex se sine cultu hominum et curatione possent, Cic. N. D. 2, 63, 158; cf.: cultus et curatio corporis, id. ib. 1, 34, 94: omnis cultus fructusque Cereris in iis locis interisse, id. Verr. 2, 4, 51, § 114.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. In gen. (also rare), training, education, culture: malo cultu corruptus, Cic. Part. Or. 26, 91: animi, mental discipline, id. Fin. 5, 19, 54; cf.: recti cultus pectora roborant, Hor. C. 4, 4, 34; id. Ep. 2, 2, 123: litterarum, Just. 9, 8, 18; Gell. 14, 6, 1: quos (barbaros reges) nulla eruditio, nullus litterarum cultus imbuerat, Sen. Ira, 3, 17, 1: quid tam dignum cultu atque labore ducamus (sc. quam vocem)? Quint. 2, 16, 17.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. An honoring, reverence, adoration, veneration: philosophia nos primum ad deorum cultum erudivit, Cic. Tusc. 1, 26, 64; id. Inv. 2, 53, 161; Ov. M. 2, 425: exquisitus religionis cultus, Val. Max. 5, 2, 1; 4, 4, 4.
        In plur.: justis ac piis, Lact. 4, 3: de adventu regis et cultu sui, Tac. A. 2, 58.
        Far more freq. and class. in prose and poetry,
      2. 2. Care directed to the refinement of life (opp. to a state of nature), i. e. arrangements for living, style, manner of life, culture, cultivation, elegance, polish, civilization, refinement, etc.: homines a ferā agrestique vitā ad humanum cultum civilemque deducere, Cic. de Or. 1, 8, 33; cf.: eadem mediocritas ad omnem usum cultumque vitae transferenda est. id. Off. 1, 39, 140: (Belgae) a cultu atque humanitate provinciae longissime absunt, Caes. B. G. 1, 1; cf. id. ib. 1, 31; Verg. A. 5, 730; and in plur.: cultusque artesque virorum, Ov. M. 7, 58: liberalis, Liv. 45, 28, 11: humilis, id. 1, 39, 3: agrestis et rusticus, id. 7, 4, 6; cf. feri, Hor. C. 1, 10, 2: multas (artes) ad animorum corporumque cultum … invexit, Liv. 39, 8, 3: regio victu atque cultu aetatem agere, Sall. C. 37, 6; so with victus, Cic. Fam. 9, 3, 1; Caes. B. G. 6, 24; Nep. Alcib. 11, 4 al.; cf. of improvement, cultivation of mind: animi cultus ille erat ei quasi quidam humanitatis cibus, Cic. Fin. 5, 19, 54: non mores patrios solum, sed etiam cultum vestitumque mutavit, Nep. Paus. 3, 1.
        In a bad sense, luxury, voluptuousness, wantonness: libido stupri, ganeae ceterique cultūs non minor incesserat, sensual indulgences, Sall. C. 13, 3; cf.: cultus ac desidia imperatoris, Liv. 29, 21, 13.
        1. b. Transf., of ornaments of style: in verbis effusiorem, ut ipsi vocant, cultum adfectaverunt, Quint. 3, 8, 58; so id. 2, 5, 23; 10, 1, 124 al.
      3. 3. Style of dress, external appearance, clothing, dress, garb, apparel, attire; esp. ornament, decoration, splendid dress, splendor (so most freq.): aequato omnium cultu, Liv. 34, 4, 12: pastoralis, Vell. 1, 2: quam maxime miserabilis, Sall. J. 33, 1; Tert. Hab. Mul. 3: regius, Nep. Dat. 3, 1: militaris, Liv. 29, 19, 11: incinctus Gabino cultu, id. 10, 7, 3: justo mundior, id. 8, 15, 7: amoenior, id. 4, 44, 11 et saep.; Vell. 2, 40; Quint. 8, prooem. § 20; Suet. Caes. 44 et saep.; Hor. C. 1, 8, 16; 4, 9, 15; Ov. M. 3, 609 et saep.