level (subs.) Copy link Outline I. Horizontal positionII. An instrument for taking levelsIII. An even surfaceIV. Usual or natural elevationV. Position of equality • level (subs.): I. Horizontal position: librata collocatio, Vitr. 8, 5 (6), 1: also, libratio, ib. § 3. To take a l., librare, perlibrare, Vitr. l. c. Phr.: to sink to the l. of the water, ad aequilibrium aquae mergi, Sen. N. Q. 3, 25, 5. II. An instrument for taking levels: Vitr. enumerates the following: libraria aquaria (a water-l.); dioptra (an optical l.); chorobates, ae (of a more elaborate kind), de Arch. 8, 5 (6): add to these, aequāmentum, Varr. in Non. III. An even surface: plānus locus, plānĭties, etc.: v. preced. art.; and plain (subs.). IV. Usual or natural elevation: Phr.: to rise above the common l., *egredi supra reliquos (cf. supergredi, Tac. Agr. 1); praeter solitum (supra modum, in bad sense, cf. Tac. A. 14, 52): things will soon find their l., *brevi tempore omnia in suum locum revertentur. V. Position of equality: Phr.: on a l. with, aequalis (v. equal): to set on a l., exaequo: e. g. to put oneself on a l. with inferiors, se cum inferioribus ex., Cic. Am. 20, init.: the law puts quadrupeds on a l. with slaves, lex servis ex. quadrupedes, Gai. Dig. 9, 2, 2: in same sense, adaequo: Cic.: Tac.