chief (adj.) Copy link Outline 1. prīmus (of that which takes the precedence2. princeps, ĭpis, (= primus)3. prīmārius (first in rank, first rate4. praecĭpŭus (esp. of things rather than persons; though not solely)5. prīmōris, e6. (Only when chief = greatest) • chief (adj.): 1. prīmus (of that which takes the precedence: only to be used when the context excludes ambiguity: v. first): unquestionably the c. man in his borough, sui municipii facile primus, Cic.: esp. in poet. the c. of the young men, juvenum primi, Virg.: v. principal. 2. princeps, ĭpis, (= primus): the c. men in the state, in republica principes, Cic.: the c. place in an embassy, legationis p. locus, Caes. (N.B.--The above words are often used substantively, both in sing. and pl.: v. examples.) 3. prīmārius (first in rank, first rate: q. v.): the c. man in a state, p. vir populi, Cic. 4. praecĭpŭus (esp. of things rather than persons; though not solely): v. principal. 5. prīmōris, e: in this sense rare except as subs.: v. chief (subs.). 6. (Only when chief = greatest): maxĭmus, summus: v. great. Phr.: the c. good, summum bonum, Cic.: the c. (ultimate) cause, ultima causa, Hor.: the c. dish at a supper, caput coenae, Cic.: the c. element of a happy life is freedom from care, caput est ad beate vivendum securitas, Cic.: to confer the chief command of a war upon anyone, ad aliquem totius belli summam deferre, Caes. (v. to appoint, 5, 6): to him the c. civil and military authority was entrusted, ei principatus atque imperium est traditum, Caes.: v. foremost, principal.
chief (subs.) Copy link Outline 1. princeps, ĭpis2. prŏcer, ĕris (esp. of the ruling class; the great; aristocracy3. prīmōris (strictly an adj.4. căput, ĭtis, n. (lit. head5. dux, auctor, etc. • chief (subs.): 1. princeps, ĭpis: the c. of the senate (lawful title of the foremost senator), p. senatus, Liv.: Zeno was the founder and c. of the Stoics, Zeno inventor et p. Stoicorum fuit, Cic.: the c. of a conspiracy, p. conjurationis, Cic.: the c.s of states, principes civitatum, Caes. 2. prŏcer, ĕris (esp. of the ruling class; the great; aristocracy: usu. in pl.): c.s destroy Pergamum, scindunt proceres Pergamum, Pl.: I am reckoned among the c.s of the state, ego proceribus civitatis annumeror, Tac.: Cic.: Virg. 3. prīmōris (strictly an adj.: but chiefly used in pl. as subs. = proceres): the c.s of the people, primores populi, Hor.: Juv. (also primores viri, Cat.). 4. căput, ĭtis, n. (lit. head: hence leader, ringleader: q. v.): the c.s of the conspiracy, capita conjurationis, Liv. 5. dux, auctor, etc.: v. leader, founder. N.B.--Chief, as applied to one holding an office by appointment, may often be expr. by a verb: as, is qui copiis praefectus s. praepositus est; cui delata est summa imperii, etc.: v. to appoint. But praefectus and praepositus are both used substantively: as, c. of a deputation, praepositus legatorum, Cic.: v. commander, captain.
CHIEF Copy link • CHIEF 1. s. caput; princeps; *reipublicae gerendae princeps: to make anybody the chief of a confederacy, *foederis principatum deferre alicui: the chief (in rank and dignity) of a state, vir primarius populi: dux (general term): auctor: princeps (he who takes the lead in anything). Commander in chief, dux belli: imperator: praetor (leader in war, the latter especially of Greek commanders in chief στρατηγός). Leader, caput: signifer: fax (chief of a party, a conspiracy, etc): the chief in a civil war (who gave the signal for its breaking out), tuba belli civilis (Cic. ad Div., 6, 12, 3): the chief of the cavalry, magister equitum; praefectus, with or without, equitum (general term). 2. adj. primus (first in order or time, with others after him): summus: maximus: praecipuus (post-Augustan, principalis: except in causae principales: opposed to secondary causes): primarius (first in rank, dignity, or value). The chief men in the state, capita rerum or reipublicae: primores: primores civitatis or populi (by connections, birth, power, credit), principes (by intellect, talents, powers of debate, activity, etc.; hence distinguished above primores, who are a body): proceres (the chief by natural position, nobility opposed to commonally): optimates (as a political class, the aristocracy). The chief point, caput alicujus rei: summa alicujus rei: cardo alicujus rei (on which all turns, Varr. and Quint.): momentum (ῥοπή, the critical, decisive point). The chief good, summum bonum. It was always his chief care, ei semper maxima or antiquissima cura fuit: to make anything one’s chief business, omne studium in aliqua re ponere. This is the chief point, hoc caput est: hoc maximum or primum est.