ăpex (noun M) : etym. acc. to Serv. ad Verg. A. 10, 270, and Paul. ex Fest. p. 18 Müll., from apo, to join to, whence aptus; cf. Van. Etym. p. 33
* The extreme end of a thing, the point, summit, top (syn.: cacumen, summa, fastigium, culmen, vertex); hence
* Lit., the small rod at the top of the flamen's cap, wound round with wool, Serv. ad Verg. A. 2, 683; 10, 270.—Hence
* Transf.
* (As pars pro toto.) The conical cap of the flamen, ornamented with this rod: QVEI. APICEM. INSIGNE. DIALIS. FLAMINIS. GESISTEI, Epitaph. Scip. Grotef. 2, 299: apicem dialem,Liv. 6, 41: apex e capite prolapsus,Val. Max. 1, 1, n. 4.—Hence, of the priesthood itself: homo honestus non apice insignis, Sen. ap. Lact. 17, 6.
* In gram., the long mark over a vowel, Quint. 1, 7, 2; 1, 4, 10; 1, 5, 23; Victor. p. 2469 P.—Hence, trop.: nullum apicem quaestionis praetermittere,Arn. 3 init.
* A projecting point or summit.
* Of the point or apex of a Hebrew letter, put fig. for the least particle, tittle (eccl. Lat.; Gr. ἡ κεραία): iota unum aut unus apex non praeteribit a lege,Vulg. Matt. 5, 18; ib. Luc. 16, 17.
* Trop., the highest ornament or honor, the crown of a thing: apex est senectutis auctoritas,Cic. Sen. 17, 60: hinc apicem Fortuna sustulit, hic posuisse gaudet,Hor. C. 1, 34, 14.
* The forms or outlines of the letters: litterarum apices,Gell. 13, 30, 10; 17, 9, 12.—Hence (per synecdochen)
* A letter or any other writing: apicum oblator,Sid. Ep. 6, 8: Augusti apices,i. e. rescripts,Cod. Just. 2, 8, 6 fin.

s. TLL