GOAL Copy link • GOALmeta (the pillar at the end of the Roman Circus, round which the runners, etc., turned; also used IMPROP., but as “the end” of the race, it is principally poetical; e.g., metam tenere, Verg. The poets also use it figuratively, for the goal of life, metam vitae, or aevi, or ultima, etc.; so, too, Varr., R.R., 1, 3, a quibus carceribus decurrat ad metas): calx (in Sen.’s time, creta; the chalked line in the Circus that served for the starting and winning post; but as opposed to carceres, it is “the winning-post,” and used figuratively Cic.). To reach the goal, ad calcem pervenire (with an ut dicitur) or decurrere (both Cic.; IMPROP.); and when this (goal) is reached, ad quam [sc. calcem; al. quem] cum sit decursum (Cic., Tusc., 1, 8, 15): when the goal is reached, decurso spatio: to recall anybody to the starting-post when he had almost reached the goal, aliquem (ad carceres) a calce or ab ipsa [al. ipso] calce revocare (IMPROP.): to have reached the goal of one’s hopes, summam voti sui consecutum esse. “To reach the goal” (IMPROP.) may also be translated without a figure, ad finem venire or pervenire. Starting-post, Vid: Final purpose; Vid: PURPOSE.