libramentum

lībrāmentum, i, n. [id.], that which gives to any thing a downward pressure; weight, gravity.

I.

Lit.:

plumbi,

Liv. 42, 63, 4.—

B.

A fall, descent of water:

libramentum aquae,

Plin. 31, 6, 31, § 57:

quod libramentum cum exinanitum est, suscitat et elicit fontem, cum repletum, moratur et strangulat, of a spring that alternately rises and falls,

Plin. Ep. 4, 30, 10:

inferiore labro demisso ad libramentum modicae aquae receptae in fauces, palpitante ibi lingua ululatus elicitur, of the croaking of frogs,

Plin. 11, 37, 65, § 173.—

II.

Transf.

A.

A level surface, horizontal plane: extremitatem et quasi libramentum, in quo nulla omnino crassitudo sit, * Cic. Ac. 2, 36, 116:

sub eodem libramento stare,

Sen. Q. N. 1, 12, 1: usque ad libramentum summi fornicis, Ael. Gall. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 206 Müll.—

B.

Evenness, equality:

ventorum hiemalium et aestivorum,

Col. 1, 5, 8 —

C.

A straight line:

si recto libramento inter solem terrasque media (luna) successit,

Sen. Ben. 5, 6, 4:

libramentum finale,

a boundary line, Amm. 15, 4, 4.—

D.

A weight for balancing or giving motive power (ballista):

ferrea manus cum injecta prorae esset, gravique libramento plumbi recelleret ad solum,

Liv. 24, 34, 10:

arietem admotum nunc saxis ingentibus nunc libramento plumbi gravatum ad terram urguebant,

id. 42, 63, 4 Weissenb.:

late cladem intulisset, ni duo milites vincla ac libramenta tormento abscidissent,

Tac. H. 3, 23.