adjectivethird-declension one-termination adjective (non-i-stem)
praepes1
praepes (genitive praepetis)
Classical[ˈprae̯.pɛs]Ecclesiastical[ˈprɛː.pes]
Meaning
- one terminationswift (of flight), rapid
dic inclyta, Phoebe, regentum nomina, dic ipsos ; neque enim generosior umquam alipedum conlata acies, ceu praepete cursu confligant densae volucres aut litore in uno
Tell, O Phoebus, the drivers' famous names, tell of the steeds themselves ; for never did nobler array of wing-footed coursers meet in conflict : even as serried ranks of birds compete in swift course or on a single shore Aeolus appoints a contest for the wild winds.c. 45 CE – 96 CE, Statius, Thebais 6.298ut cepit animos seque praetemptans satis prolusit irae, praepeti cursu evolat, summam citato vix gradu tangens humum,
When he has gained his spirit, and with full trial rehearsed his wrath, he darts forth, running swiftly, scarce touching the surface of the ground with flying feet, and stands, in grim menace, before the trembling steeds.c. 54 CE, Seneca Minor, Phaedra 1061 - one terminationwinged
- one terminationprosperous, fortunate, lucky
Simul aureus exoritur sol / edunt de caelo ter quattuor corpora sancta / avium, praepetibus sese pulcrisque locis dant.
2018 translation by Sander M. Goldberg, Gesine Manuwald Just as the golden sun arises, there comes descending from the sky a dozen blessed bodies of birds, settling themselves on fine and favorable seats.239 BCE – 169 BCE, Ennius, Annales 1.89
Declension
| form | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | praepes | praepes | praepes |
| genitive | praepetis | praepetis | praepetis |
| dative | praepetī | praepetī | praepetī |
| accusative | praepetem | praepetem | praepes |
| ablative | praepete praepetī | praepete praepetī | praepete praepetī |
| vocative | praepes | praepes | praepes |
| form | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | praepetēs | praepetēs | — |
| genitive | praepetum | praepetum | praepetum |
| dative | praepetibus | praepetibus | praepetibus |
| accusative | praepetīs praepetēs | praepetīs praepetēs | — |
| ablative | praepetibus | praepetibus | praepetibus |
| vocative | praepetēs | praepetēs | — |
praepĕs, ĕtis, adj. prae-peto.
I. Lit.
A. Flying swiftly, swift of flight, nimble, fleet, quick, rapid, etc. (poet.; syn.: velox, pernix, levis): praepes Laeva volavit avis, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 108 (Ann. v. 94 Vahl.):
praepetibus pinnis ausus se credere caelo, Verg. A. 6, 15: Boreas, Val. Fl. 1, 578: volatus, Plin. 7, prooem. 1. § 4: ferrum, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 3 (Ann. 437 Vahl.): Victoria, Cn. Matius ap. Gell. 6, 6: praepeti evolare cursu, Sen. Hippol. 1061: dextra, Aus. Ep. 146, 20: notarum praepetum, id. ib. 146, 1: praepetes aves quidam dici aiunt, quia secundum auspicium faciant praetervolantes, alii quod aut ea, quae praepetamus, indicent, aut quod praetervolant: alii ex Graeco tractum putant, quod ante conspectum volent nostrum. Ceterum poëtae promiscue omnes aves ita appellant, Fest. p. 205 Müll. —2. In gen., winged:
quem praepes ab Ida Sublimem pedibus rapuit Jovis armiger uncis, Verg. A. 5, 254: tela praepetis dei, i. e. Cupidinis, Ov. H. 8, 38.—B. Subst.: praepĕs, ĕtis.
1. Fem., a bird, Ov. M. 13, 617:
Jovis, i. e. aquila, id. ib. 4, 713; 14, 576: quae (columba), super ingenti circumdata praepetis umbrā, i. e. accipitris, Val. Fl. 8, 32.—b. In partic., a prophetic bird, from whose flight something favorable was predicted (cf.:
oscines, alites): praepetis omina pinnae, Verg. A. 3, 361; cf. Liv. 7, 26: hanc ubi praepetibus pinnis lapsuque volantem Conspexit Marius augur, Poët. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 47, 106: (praepetes sunt, quae secundo auspicio ante eum volant, qui auspicatur. Praepetes aut superiora tenent, et praepetes vocantur; aut inferiora, et dicuntur inferae. Praepetes autem ideo, quia omnes aves priora petunt volantes: vel a Graeco πέτομαι, id est volo, Serv.; cf. supra the passage from Fest.). —2. Masc.:
Medusaeus, Pegasus, Ov. M. 5, 257.—3. Masc., of Perseus himself, Luc. 9, 662 and 688.—
II. Transf., lucky, propitious, fortunate (ante-class.): pulchrique loci, Enn. ap. Gell. 6, 6, 9 (Ann. v. 97 Vahl.):
portus, id. 6, 6, 9, § 6 (Ann. v. 478 Vahl.).Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
praepes petis, abl. pete or petī, gen plur. petum, adj.
prae+PET-, outstripping ; hence, in augury, significant in flight, of good omen, favorable (of birds of good augury): praepes Laeva volavit avis, Enn. ap. C.: praepetis omina pinnae, V. — Fem . as subst, a bird of good omen : qui sibi praepetem misisset, L.— Winged, swift of flight, fleet, quick, rapid : quem praepes ab Idā rapuit Iovis armiger, V.: deus (i. e. Cupido), O.—As subst m . and f a bird, large bird : Iovis, i. e. aquila, O.: Medusaeus, i. e. Pegasus , O.
Origins
From prae- (“in front of; highly”) + pet- (“make for, move towards”) + -s (suffix marking the nominative singular of third-declension nouns and adjectives). The third sense is related to the noun.