race (subs.) Copy link Outline I. A contest in running.1. certāmen, ĭnis, n. (any contest2. cursus, ūs3. currĭcŭlum (of chariots)II. Fig.1. currĭcŭlum2. cursus, ūsIII. A strong or rapid current of water • race (subs.): I. A contest in running. 1. certāmen, ĭnis, n. (any contest: hence needing to be defined by context): a horse-r. (of chariots and horses), c. equorum, Cat. 11, 29: c. equestre, Suet. Ner. 12: a r. of two-horsed chariots, c. bijugum (= bigarum), Virg. Aen. 5, 144: a r. of four-horsed chariots, c. quadrigarum, Suet. Claud. 21: a boat-r., certamen remorum, or of sailing boats, c. navigiorum: cf. Virg. Aen. 5, 114: a foot-r., c. cursūs, Ov. M. 7, 792: c. pedum, ib. 12, 304. 2. cursus, ūs: a horse-r., c. equorum, Virg. Aen. 5, 549; c. equestris, ib. 5, 667: more freq. = foot-r. (c. pedum, ib. 5, 67): to contend in a swift foot-r., rapido contendere c., ib. 5, 291: when the r.s were finished, ubi confecti c., ib. 5, 362. 3. currĭcŭlum (of chariots): a horse-r., c. equorum, Cic. Leg. 2, 15, 38. Phr.: to run a neck and neck r., calcem terere calce, Virg. Aen. 5, 324: they are ashamed to come in last at the r., extremos pudet redire, Virg. Aen. 5, 196. Phr.: to compete in the foot-r., stadium currere, Cic. Off. 3, 10, 42. II. Fig.: a progress, course, movement. 1. currĭcŭlum: the r. of life, c. vitae, Cic. 2. cursus, ūs: the r. of life is short, that of glory everlasting, vitae brevis c., gloriae sempiternus, Cic. Sext. 21, 47. Phr.: to run the r. (of life), spatium decurrere, Cic. Sen. 23, 83. III. A strong or rapid current of water: perh. *rapidus rivus: v. Smith's Lat. Dict. s. v. rivus.