shower (subs.) Copy link Outline I. A fall of rain or hail1. imber, bris, m. (heavy, stormy rain)2. plŭviaII. Fig.1. imber (rare in this sense)2. nimbus (poet.)3. in prose expr. by vis, multitudo • shower (subs.): I. A fall of rain or hail: 1. imber, bris, m. (heavy, stormy rain): I came to Capua in the midst of a very heavy s., maximo imbri Capuam veni, Cic. Att. 7, 20: a s. of stones or blood, lapideus aut sanguineus i., id. Div. 2, 28, 60. 2. plŭvia: v. rain. Phr.: there was a s. of stones, lapidibus pluit, Liv. 35, 9: as a protection against the s. (of ashes, etc.), munimenta adversus decidentia, Plin. 6, 16, 16. II. Fig.: of missiles, etc., hurled in great numbers, etc.: 1. imber (rare in this sense): the iron s. fell thick, ferreus ingruit i., Virg. Aen. 12, 284. 2. nimbus (poet.): a s. of javelins, n. pilorum, Sil. 5, 215: a s. of darts, telorum n., Lucan 4, 776: a s. of stones and rocks, n. lapidum saxorumque, Flor. 3, 8 a s. of flowers, purpureus n., Claud. Nupt. Honor. et Mar. 298. 3. in prose expr. by vis, multitudo: s.s of tears, vis lacrimarum, Cic. Rep. 6, 14: such a s. of missiles, *tanta multitudo (vis) telorum: v. multitude. Phr.: a perfect s. of missiles, *tela densissima: cf. Virg. Aen. 9, 555.