CREATURE Copy link • CREATURECreated being or thing, res: res creata: natura: animal (animated being, living on the earth, whether man or beast; often also in contradistinction to man, as a rational being; and likewise of man, as term of contempt): animans (though used sometimes by Cic., in his philosophical writings for animal, PROP. denotes any being that exists by a power within itself; hence, also, used of the Deity, and of plants): homo (man, especially in the case in which we should use the word “creature” as term of compassion or contempt): negotium (being or thing; as term of contempt for a man, a woman, etc.; e.g., “that Teucris, a tedious creature indeed,” Teucris illa, lentum sane negotium, Cic., Att., 1, 12, in.; ☞ p. redit. in Sen., 6, 14): a rational creature, or a creature gifted with reason, animal intelligens or rationis particeps or ratione praeditum: an irrational creature, animal brutum (in plur., also, bruta only): ☞ creatura belongs to ecclesiastical Latinity: FIG. We are all the creatures of circumstances, omnibus nobis, ut res dant sese, ita magni atque humiles sumus (Terentianus, Hec., 3, 3, 20): a vile creature, nequam mulier: scelesta; scelus: there is not in the whole universe a more detestable creature than a tyrant, tyranno neque tetrius neque foedius animal ullum cogitari potest: that pestilent creature, Clodius, Clodius illud funestum animal: anybody’s creatures, alicujus assentatoresatque asseclae (his toadies); canes alicujus quos circa se habet (Cic., Verr., 2, 1, 48; but only of such dependents asassist tyrants, rapacious governors, etc., in plundering those under their power). Sometimes “creature” is used in English as a term of endearment for girl or woman, in which case it is to be turned by puella, virgo, mulier; e.g.,” that Teucris is an amiable creature,” Teucris illa suavissima puella (virgo, mulier); also by “anima, “e.g., ’O thou dear creature,” O tu carissima anima. An absolute dependent on the will of another, alicujus proprius (Nep., Lys., 1, 5: se illius fore proprium fide confirmarat): qui omnibus in rebus est in potestate alicujus: qui ex alicujus arbitrio pendet: *qui ad alicujus arbitrium, non ad suum vivit: Lentulus is the mere creature of Pompey, Lentulus est totus in potestate Pompeii (Cic.): [☞ The meaning of beneficiarii sui, Caes. B.C., 1, 75, is not certain; they were probably soldiers, who, having served their time and received rewards, etc., from the general, were afterward serving voluntarily with peculiar privileges. Herz. thinks them the veteres fidique clientes alicujus, Sall., Cat., 19, 5.] Anybody’s creatures, asseclae alicujus (Cic., Verr., 3, 12, 30; coll., Div., 2, 37, 79): centurions who were his creatures, sui beneficii centuriones (Suet., Tiberius, 12).