intense Copy link Outline I. Physically; esp. as epith. of heat or cold1. magnus or superl. (gen. term)2. ācer, cris, cre (affecting the senses keenly)3. nĭmius4. fervĭdus (of heat)II. Fig.1. ācer, cris, cre (esp. in superl.)2. intentus3. flagrans, ardens, etc. • intense: I. Physically; esp. as epith. of heat or cold: 1. magnus or superl. (gen. term): in consequence of the i. heat, ex magnis caloribus, Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 1, init. (he adds, non enim meminimus majores, more intense): the cold is i., *frigora sunt maxima. (N.B.--The plur. of frigus, calor, are used with an intensive force.) 2. ācer, cris, cre (affecting the senses keenly): i. cold, acre [acerrimum] frigus, Lucr. 4, 261: the most i. sweetness, summa et acerrima suavitas, Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 99: an i. red, rubor acerrimus, Sen. N. Q. 1, 14, 2. 3. nĭmius: v. excessive. 4. fervĭdus (of heat): v. glowing. Phr.: the heat was i., valde aestuabat (v. hot, I., extr.): the heat grows more and more i. (fig.), magis aestuat, Ov. M. 4, 64: it was the depth of winter; the cold i., hiems erat summa, tempestas perfrigida, Cic. Verr. 4, 40, 86: the cold became so i., tanta vis frigoris insecuta est, Liv. 21, 58: also, as intensifying epithets of cold occur, rigidum (frigus), Lucr. 1, 356; acutum (gelu), Hor. Od. 1, 9, 4; penetrabile (frigus), Virg. G. 1, 93; intolerabile, Cic. R. Am. 45, 131 but except the last, they savour of poetic diction. II. Fig.: highly wrought, as desire, love: 1. ācer, cris, cre (esp. in superl.): with more i. zeal, studio acriori, Cic. de Or. 1, 21, 95: i. thought, acerrima [atque attentissima] cogitatio, ib. 3, 5, 17. 2. intentus: i. diligence, intentissima cura, Liv. 25, 22: to pay the most i. heed to a case, causam quam maxime intentis oculis, ut aiunt, acerrime contemplari, Cic. Fl. 11, 26. 3. flagrans, ardens, etc.: v. ardent, fervent.