Lewis & Short

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lūbrĭcus, a, um, adj. [Gr. λιτός, λισσός, smooth; from root γλιτ; cf. γλίσχρος, glittus, and ὀλιβρός, slippery], slippery.

  1. I. Lit.: loculi, Plaut. Mil. 3, 2, 38: testudini injecta imbris in modum lubrico fastigio innoxia ad imum labebantur, Liv. 44, 9, 9: assiduo lubricus imbre lapis, Mart. 4, 18, 2.
    Subst.: lūbrĭcum, i, n., a slippery place, Cels. 8, 3: in lubrico atque instabili fundamenta, Plin. 36, 14, 21, § 95.
    With gen.: equi lubrico paludum lapsantes, on the slippery morass, Tac. A. 1, 65.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. Slippery, smooth, Mart. 9, 58, 3.
      2. 2. That easily slips, glides, or moves away, slippery, slimy, lubricous: natura lubricos oculos fecit, Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 142: anguis, Verg. A. 5, 84: exta, Tib. 2, 5, 14: amnis, Ov. Am. 3, 6, 81: pisces, Plin. 9, 20, 37, § 73: conchylia, slimy, Hor. S. 2, 4, 30: corpus, Plin. 2, 3, 3, § 7: lubrica prensantes effugit umbra manus, Ov. F. 5, 476: amnis, gliding, id. Am. 3, 6, 81.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. Slippery, uncertain, hazardous, dangerous, critical (class.): via vitae praeceps et lubrica, Cic. Fl. 42, 105; cf. id. Rep. 1, 28: viae lubricae adulescentiae, id. Cael. 17, 41: aetas puerilis maxime lubrica atque incerta, id. Verr. 2, 5, 52, § 137: cupiditas dominandi praeceps et lubrica, id. Phil. 5, 18, 50: lubrica defensionis ratio, id. Planc. 2, 5: observatio, Quint. 1, 5, 5: locus, Plin. Ep. 1, 8, 35: geometriam dico … et si qua alia propter subtilitatem lubrica sunt, Sen. Ben. 3, 5, 1.
      Poet., with inf.: vultus nimium lubricus aspici, seductive, Hor. C. 1, 19, 8.
      Subst.: lūbrĭcum, i, n., a slippery or hazardous state, period, or season: in lubrico versari, Cic. Or. 28, 98: lubricum aetatis, Plin. Ep. 3, 3, 4: lubricum linguae, Dig. 48, 4, 7, § 3.
    2. B. Gliding, fleeting: historia lubrica est hac atque illac fluit, ut homines, qui manibus invicem adprehensis gradum firmant, continent et continentur, passing from one subject to another, Quint. 9, 4, 129: annus, fleeting, Ov. A. A. 3, 364.
    3. C. Slippery, deceitful: nequiquam patrias tentasti lubricus artes, Verg. A. 11, 716.
    4. D. Prone, inclined, ready: flore capi juvenum lubrica mentem nympha, Sil. 5, 18: aetas ad vitium, Ambros. de Interp. Job et Dav. 1, 7, 21.
    5. E. Unsteady, unsettled, easily going astray: si qua in parte lubricum adulescentiae nostrae declinat, Tac. A. 14, 56: lubricam principis aetatem retinere, id. ib. 13, 2.