fas (noun N) : root fa-, cf. for; Gr. φημί, φά-ναι
* Orig. belonging to the relig. lang., the dictates of religion, divine law; opp. to jus, or human law (rare; cf. also: aequitas, justitia): jus ac fas omne delere,Cic. Att. 1, 16, 6; cf.: festis quaedam exercere diebus Fas et jura sinunt,Verg. G. 1, 269: contra fas, contra auspicia, contra omnes divinas atque humanas religiones,Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 34.—Personified: audi Juppiter, audite Fines, audiat Fas,Liv. 1, 32, 6: prima deum Fas quae Themis est Graiis,Aus. Technop. Idyll. 12: Fas omne mundi,i. e. the gods,Sen. Here. Fur. 658.
* Transf.
* A court-day, i. q. fastus (ante-class.): dies qui vocatur sic: QVANDO REX COMITIAVIT, FAS,Varr. L. L. 6, §§ 31, 32.
* In gen. (justice, equity, but usu. to be translated as an adjective), right, proper, allowable, lawful, fit, permitted; hence, possible (the predominant meaning of the word in prose and poetry; esp. freq. in the phrase fas est, with a subjectclause): fas, justum, pium, aequum subjici possunt honestati,Quint. 3, 8, 26: cum fas atque nefas exiguo fine libidinum Discernunt avidi,Hor. C. 1, 18, 10; Ov. M. 6, 585; cf.: quippe ubi fas versum atque nefas,Verg. G. 1, 505; Hor. Epod. 5, 87: jusque fasque est,Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 22: si jus, si fas est,Ter. Hec. 3, 3, 27: sicut fas jusque est,Liv. 7, 31, 3: ut eum nihil delectaret, quod aut per naturam fas esset aut per leges liceret,Cic. Mil. 16, 43; cf.: quoad fas esset, quoad liceret,id. Agr. 2, 7, 19; and: huic legi nec obrogari fas est, neque derogari ex hac aliquid licet,id. Rep. 3, 22: si me fas est orare etiam abs te, pater, etc.,Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 102: quid non adeptus est, quod homini fas esset optare?Cic. Lael. 3, 11: si eos hoc nomine appellari fas est,id. Mur. 37, 80: non esse fas, Germanos superare, si, etc.,Caes. B. G. 1, 50 fin.: neque fas esse existimant, ea litteris mandare,id. ib. 6, 14, 3: ad quos (libellos) interim respicere fas sit,Quint. 10, 7, 31: velut si aliter facere fas non sit,id. 2, 13, 1; 8, 3, 36; 10, 2, 9; 12, 7, 1: nec scire fas est omnia,Hor. C. 4, 4, 22: fas omne est, Cytherea, meis te fidere regnis,there is every reason,Verg. A. 5, 800: si hoc fas est dictu,Cic. Tusc. 5, 13, 38: neque id me facere fas existimo,Plaut. As. 3, 1, 11: fas habere,id. Trin. 2, 2, 11; Quint. 3, 8, 13; Tac. A. 14, 30; id. G. 9: leporem et gallinam et anserem gustare fas non putant,Caes. B. G. 5, 12, 6; 6, 23 fin.: fas prohibet, etc.,Ov. Tr. 2, 205: contra quam fas erat,Cic. Clu. 5, 12: ridetque (deus), si mortalis ultra Fas trepidat,Hor. C. 3, 29, 32: fas omne abrumpit,every right, obligation,Verg. A. 3, 55: exuere,Tac. H. 3, 5: et foedera respicere,id. ib. 4, 67; cf.: hostium quoque jus et sacra legationis et fas gentium rupistis,the law of nations,id. A. 1, 42; so in Tac. freq. = jus: patriae,the right, claim of one's native land,id. ib. 2, 10: armorum,id. H. 4, 58: disciplinae,id. A. 1, 19 al.

s. TLL