libra

lībra, ae, f. [cf. litra; root cli-, clino], the Roman pound, of twelve ounces:

as erat libra pondus,

Varr. L. L. 5, § 169 Müll.:

coronam auream libram pondo ex publica pecunia in Capitolio Iovi donum posuit,

Liv. 4, 20:

mulli binas libras ponderis raro exsuperant,

Plin. 9, 17, 30, § 64:

expende Hannibalem, quot libras in duce summo invenies?

Juv. 10, 147:

neque argenti in convivio plus pondo quam libras centum inlaturos,

Gell. 2, 24, 2:

dipondii pondo duas erant libras,

Gai. Inst. 1, 122.—

II.

Transf.

A.

A measure for liquids:

frumenti denos modios et totidem olei libras,

Suet. Caes. 38.—

B.

1.. A balance, pair of scales:

cum in alteram librae lancem animi bona imponebat, in alteram corporis, etc.,

Cic. Tusc. 5, 17, 51; cf. id. Fin. 5, 30, 91.—

2.

A water-poise, plummet-level, level, line:

sin autem locus... pari libra cum aequore maris est,

Col. 8, 17, 4: libratur [p. 1061] autem dioptris aut libris aquariis aut chorobate, Vitr. 8, 6, 1.—Hence, ad libram: alteram navem pluribus aggressus navibus in quibus ad libram fecerat turres, of equal height or of equal weight, Caes. B. C. 3, 40, 1.—

3.

Counterpoise, balance:

contra flatus quoque pervicax libra Bononiensibus calamis,

Plin. 16, 36, 65, § 161: aes et libra, v. aes.—

4.

The constellation Libra, The Balance, Verg. G. 1, 208; Ov. F. 4, 386; Plin. 18, 25, 59, § 221:

felix aequato genitus sub pondere Librae,

Manil. 4, 545.—

5.

Trop., a balance ( poet. ), Pers. 4, 10:

animi cunctantis libra,

Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 75.