gem Copy link Outline I. Lit.II. In fig. sense, a choice bit in an author • gem: I. Lit.: a precious stone: gemma: cups studied with most brilliant g.s, pocula g. clarissimis distincta, Cic. Verr. 4, 27, 62. Fig.: many g.s on his fingers, more in his poem, multae in digitis, plures in carmine g., Mart. 5, 11. II. In fig. sense, a choice bit in an author: floscŭlus (flower): Sen. Ep. 33, 1, 7. in same sense Cic. has Gr. ἄνθη, Att. 16, 11. If the "gem" is a short apophthegmatic sentence, chrīa, sententia, may be used, Quint. 1, 9, 3.