Lewis & Short

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frĕtum, i, n., and frĕtus, ūs, m. [root φρυ, to be in uneasy motion, boil, flash; cf. Sanscr. bhur; Lat. ferveo], a strait, sound, channel.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.
          1. (α) Form fretum: fretum dictum a similitudine ferventis aquae, quod in fretum saepe concurrat aestus atque differvescat, Varr. L. L. 7, § 22; Isid. Orig. 13, 18: (presteres) freta circum Fervescunt, Lucr. 6, 427: quid de fretis aut de marinis aestibus plura dicam? Cic. Div. 2, 14, 34; cf.: aestus maritimi, fretorumque angustiae, id. N. D. 2, 7, 19; id. Mur. 17, 35: Seston Abydena separat urbe fretum, Ov. Tr. 1, 10, 28: fretum Siciliense, the Sicilian Strait, the Strait of Messina, Cic. N. D. 3, 10, 24; also called fretum Siciliae, Caes. B. C. 2, 3, 1; v. infra: fretum nostri maris et Oceani, i. e. the Gaditanian Strait, Strait of Gibraltar, Sall. J. 17, 4.
          2. (β) Form fretus: salis fretus, Lucil. ap. Non. 205, 30; Naev. ib. 27 (Trag. Rel. p. 12 Rib.): angusto fretu, Lucr. 1, 720; cf.: ut perangusto fretu divisa servitutis ac libertatis jura cognosceret, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 66, § 169 (cf. Gell. 13, 20, 15): in Scyllaeo illo aeris alieni tamquam in fretu, Cic. Sest. 8, 18: inter Italiam et Siciliam qui est fretus, Varr. ap. Non. 205, 31: a Gaditano fretu, Cic. ap. Charis. p. 103 P.: angustiae fretus, Messala, ib.: salsi fretus, Licin. ib.
    2. B. In partic., the Strait, for the Strait of Sicily: cum se ille septimo die venisse a freto dixisset, Cic. Att. 2, 1, 5; id. Verr. 2, 1, 59, § 154; 2, 2, 7 fin.; Caes. B. C. 1, 29, 1; Suet. Tib. 2; Flor. 2, 2; Hor. Epod. 9, 7 al.
      1. 2. Hence, Frĕtensis, e, adj.: Fretense mare, i. e. the Strait of Sicily, Cic. Att. 10, 7, 1.
  2. II. Poet. transf.
    1. A. In gen., the sea (syn.: mare, oceanus, pelagus, pontus).
      Plur.: fervet fretis spirantibus aequor, Verg. G. 1, 327: in freta dum fluvii current, id. A. 1, 607; cf. Ov. M. 1, 36: pastor cum traheret per freta navibus Idaeis Helenen, Hor. C. 1, 15, 1: fretis acrior Hadriae, id. ib. 1, 33, 15.
      Sing.: Euxinum, Ov. P. 2, 2, 2: Libycum, id. F. 3, 568.
    2. * B. Of the sky: (pulvis) omnem pervolat caeli fretum, Enn. ap. Non. 205, 29 (Trag. v. 31 Vahl.).
    3. * C. Of the spring, as the period of transition from cold to heat: fretus ipse anni permiscet frigus et aestum, Lucr. 6, 364; so, freta anni, ib. 374 ex conject. Lachm. v. ej. annot. p. 369.
    4. D. A raging, swelling, heat, violence: aetatis freta, Lucr. 4, 1030; cf.: fretum adolescentiae, id est secunda imperii aetas, Flor. 1, 26: invidiae atque acerbitatis fretum effervescit, Gell. 10, 3, 7.