ver

vēr, vēris (abl. veri, Col. 10, 129), n. [Gr. ear, êr, i. e. Wêr], the spring.

I.

Lit., Varr. L. L. 6, § 9 Müll.; id. R. R. 1, 28, 1; Plaut. Truc. 2, 4, 2; Lucr. 5, 737; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 10, § 27; id. Lael. 19, 70:

vere novo,

Verg. G. 1, 43; Hor. C. 1, 4, 1; 4, 7, 9; 4, 12, 1:

primo vere,

at the beginning of spring, Cato, R. R. 50; Hor. C. 3, 7, 2.—Prov.:

vere prius flores, aestu numerabis aristas,

Ov. Tr. 4, 1, 57.—

II.

Transf., the productions of spring:

cum breve Cecropiae ver populantur apes,

Mart. 9, 14, 2.—So esp. freq., ver sacrum, a special offering presented from the firstlings of spring, which it was customary to vow in critical circumstances:

ver sacrum vovendi mos fuit Italis. Magnis enim periculis adducti vovebant, quaecumque proximo vere nata essent apud se animalia immolaturos, etc.,

Fest. p. 379 Müll.; cf. id. s. v. Mamertini, p. 158; id. s. v Sacrani, p. 321; Sisenn. ap. Non. 522, 17:

ver sacrum vovendum, si bellatum prospere esset, etc.,

Liv. 22, 9, 10; cf.

the votive formula,

id. 22, 10, 2; so id. 33, 44, 1; 34, 44, 1 sqq. Weissenb. ad loc.; Just. 24, 4, 1.—

II.

Trop., the spring-time of life, youth ( poet. ):

jucundum cum aetas florida ver ageret,

Cat. 68, 16; Ov. M. 10, 85.