mōmentum (noun N) : for movimentum, from moveo
* A movement, motion (as an indwelling force; cf.: motio, motus; class.).
* Lit.: astra forma ipsa figuraque sua momenta sustentant,Cic. N. D. 2, 46, 117: pisces levi caudae in utrumque momento velocitatem suam flectunt,Sen. Ep. 90, 24: utque leves tactus momentaque parva sequantur,Ov. M. 4, 180.
* Transf.
* An alteration, change, disturbance, movement, revolution: cetera populi Romani vectigalia, perlevi saepe momento fortunae, inclinatione temporis pendere,Cic. Agr. 2, 29, 80: nullum momentum annonae facere,to effect no alteration in the price of corn,Liv. 4, 12: animi,id. 39, 5: provincias magnis momentis concusserat,Vell. 2, 78, 1: sine momento rerum, partisque ruinā cadere,Luc. 7, 118.
* A particle sufficient to turn the scales: momentum staterae,Vulg. Isa. 40, 15; id. Sap. 11, 23; hence, a particle, a part, a point: myrrhae momentum,Plin. 30, 10, 27, § 87: quibus (regnis) pro ignobili momento erat accessura Macedonia,a make-weight,Just. 7, 3, 1: sol cotidie ex alio caeli momento, quam pridie, oritur,a point, part,Plin. 18, 34, 77, § 333: corpus orationis in parva momenta diducendo consumere,Quint. 3, 11, 23; to lose the main subject in minute divisions: ordo rerum tribus momentis consertus est,id. 5, 10, 71: officiorum,parts,Cic. Mur. 2, 3.
* In partic.
* Of time, a short time, brief space, moment (syn. punctum): parvis momentis multa natura affingit,instants, moments,Cic. Div. 1, 52, 118: momentis certis dimensis,at certain fixed times,Plin. Ep. 4, 30, 3: non cunctandum ratus Hannibal, totis viribus adgressus urbem momento cepit,Liv. 21, 14, 3: momento temporis,in a moment,id. 21, 33; 35, 11, 13: momento horae,in quick lapse of time,Hor. S. 1, 1, 7; cf.: momento unius horae,Curt. 9, 6, 21: horae momento,Liv. 5, 7, 3; 9, 16: Maecenati triennio supremo nullo horae momento contigit somnus,could not sleep a single hour,Plin. 7, 51, 52, § 172: brevi horarum momento,in a few hours,Just. 2, 14, 9: ut momentum horae pereat,that a short hour be lost,Phaedr. 3 prol. 5: momento fit cinis diu silva,in a moment,Sen. Q. N. 3, 27, 3: in momento, in ictu oculi,Vulg. 1 Cor. 15, 52: in momento indignationis,id. Isa. 54, 8: pruna stomacho non utilissima, sed brevi momento,are hurtful, but only for a short time,Plin. 23, 7, 66, § 132: quantum quoquo momento temporis adiciatur,Gai. Inst. 2, 70: hoc fit dicis gratia uno momento,id. ib. 1, 141.
* Trop., a cause, a circumstance; weight, influence, importance, moment: minimis momentis maximae inclinationes temporum fiunt,from the slightest causes spring the greatest changes,Cic. Phil. 5, 10, 26: momenta omnia observare,all the circumstances,id. Fam. 6, 10, 5: unamquamque rem momento suo ponderare,according to its importance,id. Font. 6, 21; cf.: ut omnia verborum momentis, non rerum ponderibus examinet,id. Rep. 3, 8, 12: ita parvae res magnum in utramque partem momentum habuerunt,influence,Caes. B. C. 3, 70: quorum adventus hoc tamen momenti fecit, ut Scipio abscederet inde, etc.,Liv. 29, 35: nullum momentum in dando adimendoque regno habere,no decisive influence,id. 1, 47, 6: momenti aliquid apud Magnetas ad repetendam societatem Romanam facere,id. 35, 39, 3: cave quidquam habeat momenti gratia,weight, influence,Cic. Mur. 30, 62: magno ad persuadendum momento esse,id. Inv. 2, 26, 77: potentia,motives,Ov. M. 11, 285: Leonis (sideris),influence,Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 16: praebe nostrae momenta saluti,promote,Ov. P. 4, 13, 49: erant octo cohortes ... tum discordiā temporum a legione digressae, prout inclinassent, grande momentum sociae aut adversae,Tac. H. 1, 59: levi momento aestimare aliquid,to consider of little moment, to prize lightly,Caes. B. G. 7, 39: nullius momenti aliquid putare,of no moment, unimportant,Cic. Vatin. 1, 1: nullius momenti apud exercitum futurum, Nep. Alcib. 8, 4: quod (oppidum) per se parvum magni momenti locum obtinuit,Tac. H. 3, 8: id est maximi momenti et ponderis,of the greatest moment,Cic. Vatin. 4, 19: exponunt, se tentāsse etiam haud magni momenti finitimarum gentium auxilia,Liv. 10, 16, 5: sed in bello nihil tam leve est, quod non magnae interdum rei momentum faciat,id. 25, 18, 3; 28, 17, 10; 27, 45, 5: inpensam in rem maximi ad omnia momenti facere,id. 43, 23, 8: nullā in re nisi in virtute propensionem ne minimi quidem momenti esse ad, etc.,Cic. Fin. 4, 17, 47: omnino nihil habere momenti,id. ib. 2, 12, 38.

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