proper noun
Fĭdĭus
Meaning
- a surname of Jupiter
Fĭdĭus, ii, m. 1. fides,
I. a surname of Jupiter, in Dionys. Halic. called Ζεὺς Πίστιος, identical with the Sabine Sancus:
Nonas Sanco Fidione referrem, Ov. F. 6, 213; more usually connected with deus (dius) or medius (i. e. dius or deus, with the demonstr. part. me), and also joined into one word, mediusfidius, as an asseveration, qs. by the god of truth! as true as heaven! most certainly! itaque domi rituis nostri, qui per deum Fidium jurare vult, prodire solet in compluvium, Varr. ap. Non. 494, 30; cf. id. L. L. 5, § 66 Müll.: per deum Fidium quaeris, Plaut. As. 1, 1, 8: unum medius fidius tecum diem libentius posuerim, quam, etc., Cic. Fam. 5, 21, 1: quam mediusfidius veram licet cognoscas, Sall. C. 35, 2: non mediusfidius ipsas Athenas (loqui) tam Atticas dixerim, Plin. Ep. 4, 3, 5; Quint. 5, 12, 17 al.; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 147, 8 Müll.—B. Of Hercules, Tert. Idol. 20; cf. Serv. ad Verg. A. 4, 204.
Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
Fidius ī, m
1 fides, the god of faith, a surname of Jupiter , O.—In the oath, me dius fidius or medius fidius, ellipt. for ita me dius Fidius iuvet, so help me the god of truth, by the god of truth .