Lewis & Short

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lĕpor and lĕpos, ōris, m. [perh. root lamp-; Gr. λάμπω, λαμπρός; cf. Lat. limpidus, lanterna], pleasantness, agreeableness, attractiveness, charm.

  1. I. In gen.: quasi salsa muriatica esse autumantur sine omni lepore et sine suavitate, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 32: aurea, pavonum ridenti imbuta lepore Saecla, Lucr. 2, 502; 4, 1133: omnis vitae lepos, Plin. 31, 7, 41, § 88.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. Of behavior, pleasantness, grace, politeness, amiability: affluens omni lepore ac venustate, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142: in quo mihi videtur specimen fuisse humanitatis, salis, suavitatis, leporis, id. Tusc. 5, 19, 55.
    2. B. As a term of endearment, = blanditiae, my delight, charmer: respice, o mi lepos, Plaut. Cas. 2, 3, 19; id. Curc. 1, 2, 4.
    3. C. Of speech, pleasantry, wit, humor (so most freq. in Cic.; cf.: sal, facetiae, festivitas): Inest lepos ludusque in hac comoedia, Plaut. As. prol. 13: ea esset in homine jucunditas et tantus in jocando lepos ut, etc., Cic. de Or. 1, 7, 27: urbanitatis oratorius, non scurrilis, lepos, id. Brut. 38, 143; cf. id. de Or. 1, 34, 159: floruit admirabili quodam lepore dicendi, id. Ac. 2, 6, 16: inusitatus nostris oratoribus lepos, id. de Or. 2, 23, 98: omnes verborum, omnes sententiarum lepores, id. Or. 27, 96.

lĕpus, ŏris, m. (com., Varr. R. R. 3, 12; Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 217;

  1. I. v. infra) [cf. Aeol. and Sicil. λέπορις, collat. form of λαγώς, Varr. L. L. 5, § 101 Müll.; id. R. R. 3, 12; but Curt. compares lepor, lepidus, root in Gr. λάμπω], a hare, Varr. R. R. 3, 12; Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 217: lepus multum somni affert, qui illum edit, Cato ap. Diomed. p. 358 P.; Plaut. Pers. 3, 3, 31: auritosque sequi lepores, Verg. G. 1, 308: pavidus, Hor. Epod. 2, 35; id. C. 1, 37, 18: dare semesum leporem, Juv. 5, 167.
    Of the she-hare: lepus cum praegnans sit, Varr. R. R. 3, 12; Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 219; cf.: fecundae leporis, Hor. S. 2, 4, 44 (fecundi, Keller).
    Prov.: aliis leporem exagitare, to hunt the hare for others, i. e. to do something of which others reap the advantage, Petr. 131; cf. Ov. A. A. 3, 661: lepus tute es et pulpamentum quaeris? What! you a hare, and hunting for game?
    In mal. part., Liv. Andron. ap. Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 36; cf. Don. ad h. l. and Vop. Num. 13.
    As a term of endearment: mens pullus passer, mea columba, mi lepus, Plaut. Cas. 1, 50.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. A poisonous seafish, of the color of a hare, the Aplysia depilans, Linn.; Plin. 9, 48, 72, § 155; 32, 1, 3, § 8.
    2. B. The constellation Lepus, Cic. Arat. 365; id. N. D. 2, 44, 114; Hyg. Astr. 3, 22; Manil. 5, 159.