Lewis & Short

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† stĭlus (not stylus), i, m. [for stiglus; Gr. στίζω, to stick, puncture; στίγμα, mark, point; Sanscr. tig, to be sharp; tigmas, sharp; cf. Engl. stick, sting; Lat. stimulus; not connected with στῦλος].

  1. I. In gen., a stake, pale: extra vallum stili caeci, concealed stakes, Auct. B. Afr. 31, 5; cf. Sil. 10, 415 (for which stimuli, Caes. B. G. 7, 73 fin.): ligneus, Amm. 23, 4, 5; 15, 10, 5.
    In agriculture, a pointed instrument for freeing plants from worms or from shoots which grow too rankly, etc., Col. 11, 3, 53; Pall. Mart. 10, 20.
    Of the stem or stalk of many plants (e. g. of the asparagus), Col. 11, 3, 46; 11, 3, 58; 5, 10, 13; 5, 10, 21.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. A style used by the Romans for writing on waxen tablets (pointed, and usually made of iron): effer cito stilum, ceram et tabellas et linum, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 64; cf. id. ib. 4, 4, 76; 4, 9, 73; Quint. 1, 1, 27: cum otiosus stilum prehenderat, flaccebat oratio, Cic. Brut. 24, 93: orationes paene Attico stilo scriptae, with an Attic pen, id. ib. 45, 167; so, (comoediae quaedam) resipiant stilum Plautinum, Gell. 3, 3, 13.
      And with reference to the ecenomical use, in a double sense, Cic. de Or. 2, 23, 96.
      Writing on wax was erased with the broad upper end of the style; hence the phrase stilum vertere, for to erase what one has written, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 41, § 101: saepe stilum vertas, iterum quae digna legi sint, Scripturus, Hor. S. 1, 10, 73.
      But cf.: et mihi vertenti stilum in Gallias, i. e. turning to write of, Amm. 29, 3, 1.
      Comically: stilis me totum usque ulmeis conscribito, i. e. with elm switches, Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 131 (cf. conscribo).
    2. B. Transf.
      1. 1. = scriptio and scriptura, a setting down in writing, composing, composition; the practice of composing; manner of writing, mode of composition: stilus optimus et praestantissimus dicendi effector ac magister, Cic. de Or. 1, 33, 150; 1, 60, 257; cf. id. ib. 3, 49, 190; Quint. 1, 9, 2; cf.: multus stilus et assidua lectio, id. 10, 7, 4: stilus exercitatus, i. e. a practised pen, Cic. Or. 44, 150: tardior stilus cogitationem moratur, Quint. 1, 1, 28: neglegens, id. 2, 4, 13: multus, id. 10, 1, 1: tardus, id. 10, 3, 5: rudis et confusus, id. 1, 1, 28: fidelis, id. 10, 7, 7: stilo incumbere, Plin. Ep. 7, 29, 9: aliquid stilo prosequi, id. ib. 1, 8, 8; 2, 3, 3: signare stilo, Vell. 1, 16, 1: non ita dissimili sunt argumento, sed tamen Dissimili oratione sunt factae ac stilo, in speech and writing, Ter. And. prol. 12 (for which: oratione et scripturā, id. Phorm. prol. 5); cf.: unus sonus est totius orationis et idem stilus, the same tone and the same style of composition run through the whole speech, Cic. Brut. 26, 100: artifex stilus, an artistic style, id. ib. 25, 96: familiares opes velut supremo distribuens stilo, i. e. by his last will, Amm. 25, 3, 21.
      2. 2. A manner of speaking, mode of expression, style in speaking (post-Aug. and very rare; not as early as Quint.; in class. Lat. sermo, oratio, dictio, dicendi modus, ars, genus or forma): stilus pressus demissusque, Plin. Ep. 1, 8, 5: pugnax et quasi bellatorins, id. ib. 7, 9, 7: laetior, id. ib. 3, 18, 10; cf.: diligentis stili anxietas, Tac. Or. 39: (Octavius) tragoediam magno impetu exorsus, non succedente stilo, abolevit, Suet. Aug. 85: affectatione obscurabat stilum, id. Tib. 70: stili dicendi duo sunt: unus est maturus et gravis, alter ardens erectus et infensus, etc., Macr. S. 5, 1; 6, 3.
      3. * 3. A decision, verdict, opinion, App. M. 10, p. 242, 20.

stylus, i, v. stilus.