merācus

1. Purus (ψωρός) denotes purity, as a synonyme of integer, and in opp. to contaminatus, like καθαρός, Suet. Vesp. 9; whereas mundus, as a synonyme of nitidus, and in opp. to spurcus or sordidus, like κομψός; Senec. Ep. 70. Sall. Jug. 85. Hor. Sat. ii. 1, 65; lastly, merus (from μείρω) as a synonyme of simplex, and in opp. to mixtus, like ἀκήρατος, ἀκέραιος. Colum. iii. 21. 2. Purus is the general and popular, putus, or usually purus putus, purus ac putus, the technical expression for the purity of gold and silver, that are solid and without alloy. 3. Merus denotes anything unmixed, indifferently, or with praise, as a mixture may be an adulteration; whereas meracus refers especially to unmixed wine, and, figuratively, it is transferred to other objects, and means unmixed in a bad sense, as that which is without its proper ingredients, like the old German word, eitel, thin and poor in quality, in opp. to temperatus. Cic. Rep. i. 43. (iii. 204.)