Lewis & Short

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ĕquĕs, ĭtis, m. [equus], a horseman, rider.

  1. I. In gen.: it eques et plausu cava concutit ungula terram, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 1 (Ann. v. 419 ed. Vahlen); Liv. 26, 2; 28, 9; Dig. 9, 2, 57; Ov. F. 5, 700 (of Castor; cf. Hor. C. 1, 12, 26; id. S. 2, 1, 26); Hor. C. 4, 11, 27 (of Bellerophon; cf. id. ib. 3, 12, 8); id. Ep. 1, 2, 65; 1, 10, 38 al.
    Poet. transf., of horse and rider: quadrupes, Enn. ap. Non. 106, 31; Gell. 18, 5; and Macr. S. 6, 9 (who, like the other ancient grammarians, consider eques = equus); cf. Enn. ed. Vahl. p. 37; imitated by Verg. G. 3, 116 Heyne.
    Far more frequently,
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. In milit. lang., a horse-soldier, trooper; opp. pedes, a foot-soldier, Caes. B. G. 1, 15, 3 (twice); 1, 18 fin.; 1, 23, 2 et saep.; opp. pedites, id. ib. 1, 48, 5; 2, 24, 1; 4, 33, 3 et saep.; opp. viri or homines, for pedites, Liv. 21, 27; 9, 19: equites singulares Augusti, v. singularis.
      1. 2. Meton. or collect., horse-soldiers, cavalry: plurimum in Aetolis equitibus praesidii fuit: is longe tum optimus eques in Graecia erat, Liv. 33, 7 fin.; 2, 20; 8, 38; Suet. Galb. 12; Flor. 2, 6, 13; Tac. A. 3, 46; 12, 29; id. H. 2, 89.
    2. B. Equites, the order of knights, the Equites, who, among the Romans, held a middle rank between the Senate and the Plebs, consisting, under Romulus, of the 300 Celeres, but whose number, as early as the reign of Tullus Hostilius, had increased to 18 centuries. In the last centuries of the republic this order enjoyed great consideration and influence in the conduct of public affairs, in consequence of the wealth they acquired as farmers of the public taxes, as also by reason of the right to the administration of justice held by them after the year 632 A. U. C. (acc. to the lex Sempronia judiciaria), Liv. 1, 15; 30, 43; Cic. Rep. 2, 20; 22; id. Font. 8; id. Verr. 1, 13, 38; id. de Or. 2, 48 fin.; Plin. 33, 1, 7, § 29 sq.; Cic. Clu. 55, 152; id. Rosc. Com. 14 fin.; id. Fl. 2, 4; id. Phil. 7, 6; Caes. B. C. 1, 23, 2; Sall. J. 65, 2; Ov. Am. 1, 3, 8; id. F. 4, 293; Hor. C. 1, 20, 5; 3, 16, 20; id. S. 1, 10, 76 et saep.; cf. Dict. of Antiq., art. Equites.
      1. 2. In the sing. collect., the equestrian order: senatores, eques, miles, Tac. A. 15, 48; 1, 7; 4, 74; Suet. Aug. 34; id. Calig. 26; id. Vesp. 9; Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 185; Mart. 8, 15 al.