venustas

vĕnustas, ātis, f. [1. Venus], loveliness, comeliness, charm, grace, beauty, elegance, attractiveness, etc. (syn.: pulchritudo, formositas).

I.

Of the body:

cum pulchritudinis duo genera sint, quorum in altero venustas sit, in altero dignitas, venustatem muliebrem ducere debemus, dignitatem virilem,

Cic. Off. 1, 36, 130; cf. id. ib. 1, 30, 17:

venustas et pulchritudo corporis,

id. ib. 1, 27, 95:

voltus quantam affert tum dignitatem, tum venustatem,

id. Or. 18, 60.— Transf., of inanim. things:

signa eximiā venustate,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 3, § 5:

Capitolii fastigium illud non venustas sed necessitas ipsa fabricata est,

id. de Or. 3, 46, 180:

pomorum,

Varr. R. R. 1, 59, 2.—

II.

Of the mind:

homo affluens omni lepore et venustate,

Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142:

(oratoris est) agere cum dignitate ac venustate,

id. de Or. 1, 31, 142:

dicendi vis egregia, summā festivitate et venustate conjuncta profuit,

id. ib. 1, 57, 243:

comprobari cum dignitate tum etiam venustate,

id. Arch. 12, 31; Quint. 4, 2, 118; 9, 2, 66; 9, 3, 72:

verborum,

Gell. 17, 20, 6:

tui quidem omnes mores ad venustatem valent,

Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 63; cf. id. ib. 3, 1, 54; id. Truc. 4, 2, 4:

diem pulchrum et venustatis plenum,

pleasantness, pleasure, id. Poen. 1, 2, 44; cf.:

quis me fortunatior, venustatisque adeo plenior,

Ter. Hec. 5, 4, 8.— Plur.:

amoenitates omnium venerum atque venustatum affero,

Plaut. Stich. 2, 1, 5; id. Ps. 5, 1, 12.