Lewis & Short

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2. mŏdŭlātus, ūs, m. [modulor], a modulating (poet.): canoro saxa modulatu trahens, music, a playing on the lute, Sen. Herc. Fur. 263.

mŏdŭlor, ātus, 1, v. dep. [modulus], to measure off properly, to measure; to manage properly, to regulate.

  1. I. In gen. (only post-Aug.): in modulanda statūs longitudinisque ejus praestantiā, Gell. 1, 1, 1; cf.: quanta longinquitas corporis ei mensurae conveniret, modificatus est, id. ib. fin.: ita modulante naturā, Plin. 2, 54, 55, § 142.
  2. II. In partic., of singing, speaking, dancing, etc., to measure rhythmically; to modulate; hence, transf., to dance, to represent by dancing; to sing, to play (class.): ipsa natura, quasi modularetur hominum orationem, in omni verbo posuit acutam vocem, Cic. Or. 18, 58; cf.: hominum aures vocem naturā modulantur, modulate, id. de Or. 3, 48, 185: insulae, Saliares dictae, quoniam in symphoniae cantu ad ictus modulantium pedum moventur, Plin. 2, 95, 96, § 209.
    1. B. Transf.: virgines sonum vocis pulsu pedum modulantes incesserunt, beating time to, accompanying with the dance, Liv. 27, 37 fin.: (carmina) pastoris Siculi modulabor avenā, Verg. E. 10, 51: carmina descripsi, et modulans alterna notavi, id. ib. 5, 14: verba fidibus modulanda Latinis, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 143: lyram, Tib. 3, 4, 39
      Hence, mŏdŭlātus, a, um, Part. and P. a., in pass. signif.
    1. A. Played upon, made by playing, played.
      1. 1. Of an instrument: dic Latinum, Barbite, carmen Lesbio primum modulate civi, Hor. C. 1, 32, 5.
      2. 2. Of a song, tune, etc., sung: carmina, Suet. Aug. 57: a canticis ad aliorum similitudinem modulatis, Quint. 9, 2, 35.
    2. B. Properly measured, in due measure, in time, melodious, musical (poet. and in postAug. prose): ipso modulata dolore Verba fundebat, Ov. M. 14, 428: sonus, Plin. 10, 29, 43, § 81; § 85.
      Comp.: ut moderatiores modulatioresque fierent animi, more harmonious, Gell. 1, 11, 1: lingua, id. 1, 15, 14: orationem modulatiorem aptioremque reddit, id. 13, 24, 9.
      Sup.: modulatissimus cantus, Flor. 2, 7, 15.
      Hence, adv.: mŏ-dŭlātē, measuredly, according to measure, in time, melodiously: modulate canentes tibiae, * Cic. N. D. 2, 8, 22: haec tu quam perite, quam concinne, quam modulate enuntiāsti, Aus. Ep. 19.
      Comp.: ars modulatius incedendi, Amm. 16, 5, 10: verba modulatius collocata, Gell. 11, 13, 2.