astus

1.

astus, a, um, adj., v. astutus.

2.

astus, ūs, m. [Curtius suggests the Sanscr. aksh = to reach, hit, and oxus, swift; and Vanicek, ascia and axinê, with the idea of sharpness; others askeô, to practise], adroitness, dexterity; hence, in malam partem, craft, cunning (as a single act, while astutia designates cunning as a habit; until the post-Aug. period found only in the abl., astu, as an adv.; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 5 Müll., and Prisc. p. 1012 P.):

Satin astu et fallendo callet?

Att. Trag. Rel. p. 197 Rib.:

Nisi ut astu ingenium linguā laudem et dictis lactem lenibus,

id. ib. p. 189:

nam doli non doli sunt, nisi astu colas,

Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 30:

Sed ut astu sum adgressus ad eas!

id. Poen. 5, 4, 53; id. Trin. 4, 2, 123; id. Ep. 4, 1, 19; id. Poen. prol. 111:

astu providere,

Ter. And. 1, 3, 3:

astu rem tractare,

id. Eun. 5, 4, 2:

Consilio versare dolos ingressus et astu, Incipit haec,

Verg. A. 11, 704:

ille astu subit,

id. ib. 10, 522: aliquem astu adgredi, Tac. A. 2, 64:

astus belli,

Sil. 16, 32:

libertae,

Tac. A. 14, 2:

oratio, quae astu caret, pondero modo et inpulsu proeliatur,

Quint. 9, 1, 20.—In plur.:

astus hostium in perniciem ipsis vertebat,

Tac. A. 2, 20:

praeveniens inimicorum astus,

id. ib. 6, 44; 12, 45; Petr. 97:

Ulixes nectit pectore astus callidos,

Sen. Troad. 527:

nunc advoca astus, anime, nunc fraudes, dolos,

id. ib. 618:

ad insidiarum astus,

Gell. 11, 18, 17.