(a) The Fight in General
_proelium committere_—(1) to begin the battle, (2) to give battle.
_proelium inire_ (Liv. 2. 14)—to engage.
_proelium facere_—to give battle.
_proelio equestri contendere_—to give battle with a cavalry-division.
_proelium equestre facere_—to give battle with a cavalry-division.
_proelium facere secundum_—to fight successfully.
_proeliis secundis uti_—to fight successfully.
_rem (bene, male) gerere_ (_vid._ sect. XII. 2, note _rem
gerere..._)—to win, lose a fight (of the commander).
_proelium intermittere_—to interrupt the battle.
_proelium dirimere_ (B. C. 1. 40)—to break off the fight.
_proelium restituere_—to renew the battle with success.
_proelium renovare, redintegrare_—to begin the fight again.
_proelium deserere_—to give up the fight.
_proelio, armis decertare_ (B. G. 1. 50)—to fight a decisive battle.
_acie (armis, ferro) decernere_—to fight a pitched battle.
_in acie dimicare_—to fight a pitched battle.
_proelio interesse_—to take part in the engagement.
_ex equo pugnare_—to fight on horseback.
_certamen singulare_—single combat.
_povocare aliquem ad certamen singulare_—to challenge some one to
single combat.
_proelium cruentum, atrox_—a bloody battle.
_proelium iustum_ (opp. _tumultuarium_)—a pitched battle.
(b) The Attack
_classicum canit_ (B. C. 3. 82)—the trumpet sounds for the attack.
_gradum inferre in hostem_—to march on the enemy.
_aggredi hostem_—to attack the enemy.
_invadere, impetum_[1] _facere in hostem_—to attack the enemy.
_signa inferre in hostem_—to attack the enemy.
_impetum sustinere_ (B. G. 1. 26)—to resist the attack, onset.
_impetum excipere_[2] (Liv. 6. 12)—to parry the attack.
_in medios hostes se inicere_—to rush into the midst of the foe.
_per medios hostes (mediam hostium aciem) perrumpere_—to break through
the enemy's centre.
_manum (us) conserere cum hoste_—to come to close quarters.
_signa conferre cum hoste_[3]—to come to close quarters.
_proelio concurritur_ (Sall. Iug. 59)—the lines charge in battle one
on another.
_adversis hostibus occurrere_—to attack the enemy in the front.
_aversos hostes aggredi_—to attack the enemy in the rear.
_hostes a tergo adoriri_—to attack the enemy in the rear.
_iusto_ (opp. _tumultuario_) _proelio confligere cum hoste_ (Liv. 35.
4)—to fight a pitched, orderly battle with an enemy.
_acies inclīnat_ or _inclīnatur_ (Liv. 7. 33)—the line of battle gives
way.
_proelium anceps est_—the issue of the battle is undecided.
_ancipiti Marte pugnatur_—the issue of the battle is undecided.
_diu anceps stetit pugna_—the issue of the day was for a long time
uncertain.
_res est in periculo, in summo discrimine_—the position is critical.
_res ad triarios_[4] _redit_ (Liv. 8. 8)—the triarii must now fight
(proverbially = we are reduced to extremities).
[1] _impetus_ is not used in the dative sing. or in the plur.; these
cases are supplied by _incursio_.
[2] Caesar's method of attack was usually this: the troops drawn up on
rising ground charged at the double (_concursus_); when within range
came _emissio telorum_ or _pilorum_. This was followed up by a
hand-to-hand _mêlée (impetus gladiorum)_.
[3] _signa conferre cum aliquo_ also sometimes means to join forces.
[4] The _triarii_ were the veterans who made up the third line behind
the _principes_ and _hastati_. If these first two lines were beaten or
in difficulties (_laborare_), the _triarii_, who were in a kneeling
posture (_dextro genu innixi_, Liv. 8. 9), stood up (_consurgebant_,
Liv. 8. 10) and continued the fight. Hence this proverb (_inde rem ad
triarios redisse cum laboratur proverbio increbuit_). For the
organisation of the legion in general _vid._ Liv. book 8.
(c) Close Quarters
_collatis signis (viribus) pugnare_—to fight hand-to-hand, at close
quarters.
_tum pes cum pede collatus est_ (Liv. 28. 2)—a hand-to-hand engagement
ensued.
_collato pede_ (Liv. 6. 12)—hand to hand.
_gladio comminus_ (opp. _eminus_) _rem gerere_—to fight with swords at
close quarters.
_omissis pilis gladiis rem gerere_—to throw down the javelins (_pila_)
and fight with the sword.
_res ad gladios vēnit_—swords must now decide the day.
_res gladiis geri coepta est_—swords must now decide the day.
_strictis gladiis in hostem ferri_—to throw oneself on the enemy with
drawn sword.
_res ad manus venit_—the fighting is now at close quarters.
_laxatis_ (opp. _confertis_) _ordinibus pugnare_—to fight in open order.
_ferarum_[1] _ritu pugnare_—to fight like lions.
_manu fortis_—personally brave.
[1] The Latin language uses the general term (_fera_) where we use the
special (lion). Similarly _pecorum modo fugiunt_ (Liv. 40. 27), where
we translate "they flee like deer."
(d) Tactics—Reinforcements
_in latus hostium incurrere_—to fall upon the enemy's flank.
_circumvenire hostem aversum_ or _a tergo_ (B. G. 2. 26)—to surround
the enemy from the rear.
_multitudine hostium cingi_—to be surrounded by the superior force of
the enemy.
_equitatu superiorem esse_—to have the advantage in cavalry.
_parem_ (opp. _imparem_) _esse hosti_—to be a match for the enemy.
_orbem_[1] _facere_ (Sall. Iug. 97. 5)—to form a square.
_in orbem consistere_—to form a square.
_cuneum facere_ (Liv. 22. 47)—to draw up troops in a wedge-formation.
_phalangem facere_ (B. G. 1. 24)—to form a phalanx.
_phalangem perfringere_—to break through the phalanx.
_subsidia summittere_—to send up reserves.
_integros defatigatis summittere_—to send fresh troops to take the
place of those wearied with fighting.
_rari dispersique pugnare_ (B. C. 1. 44)—to fight in skirmishing order.
_integri et recentes defatigatis succedunt_—fresh troops relieve the
tired men.
[1] _orbis_ properly a circle, but corresponding almost exactly in its
objects to our square-formation (_vid._ B. G. 4. 37, 5. 33; Sall. Iug.
97. 5). For a good account of Roman military formation see Kraner,
_Uebersicht des Kriegswesens bei Caesar_, in his edition of the
_Bellum Gallicum_.
(e) Successful Attack
_pellere hostem_—to repulse the enemy.
_acies hostium impellitur_—the enemy's line is repulsed.
_loco movere, depellere, deicere hostem_ (B. G. 7. 51)—to drive the
enemy from his position.
_summovere_ or _reicere hostium equites_—to repel the attack of the
enemy's cavalry.
_repellere, propulsare hostem_—to repulse an attack.
_undique premi, urgeri_ (B. G. 2. 26)—to be pressed on all sides.
_prosternere, profligare hostem_—to rout the enemy.
(f) Retreat—Flight—Pursuit
_signa receptui canunt_—the retreat is sounded.
_receptui canitur_ (B. G. 7. 47)—the retreat is sounded.
_pedem referre_—to retire (without turning one's back on the enemy).
_equitatus tutum receptum dat_—the cavalry covers the retreat.
_se recipere_ (B. G. 7. 20)—to withdraw one's forces.
_loco excedere_—to abandon one's position.
_in fugam dare, conicere hostem_—to put the enemy to flight.
_fugare hostem_—to put the enemy to flight.
_fundere hostium copias_—to rout the enemy's forces.
_caedere et fundere hostem_—to utterly rout the enemy.
_fundere et fugare hostem_—to utterly rout the enemy.
_prae se agere hostem_—to drive the enemy before one.
_fugam facere_ (Sall. Iug. 53)—(1) to put to flight, (2) to take to
flight.
_terga vertere_ or _dare_—to flee, run away.
_terga dare hosti_—to run away from the enemy.
_fugae se mandare_ (B. G. 2. 24)—to take to flight.
_fugam capessere, capere_—to take to flight.
_se dare in fugam, fugae_—to take to flight.
_se conicere, se conferre in fugam_—to take to flight.
_fuga salutem petere_—to seek safety in flight.
_fuga effusa, praeceps_ (Liv. 30. 5)—headlong flight.
_pecorum modo fugere_ (Liv. 40. 27)—to flee like deer, sheep.
_arma abicere_—to throw away one's arms.
_praecipitem se fugae mandare_—to flee headlong.
_ex (in) fuga dissipati_ or _dispersi_ (B. G. 2. 24)—soldiers routed
and dispersed.
_hostes insequi, prosequi_—to pursue the enemy.
_hostes (fusos) persequi_—to follow up and harass the enemy when in
flight.
_hostes assequi, consequi_—to overtake the enemy.
_fugientibus instare_—to press the fugitives.
_tergis hostium inhaerere_—to be on the heels of the enemy.
_fugam hostium reprimere_ (B. G. 3. 14)—to bring the flying enemy to a
stand.
_excipere aliquem fugientem_—to cut off some one's flight.
_magna caedes hostium fugientium facta est_—there was great slaughter
of fugitives.
_capere aliquem vivum_—to take a person alive.
_effugere, elābi e manibus hostium_—to escape from the hands of the
enemy.
_dimittere e manibus hostes_—to let the enemy escape.
_eripere aliquem e manibus hostium_—to rescue some one from the hands
of the enemy.
_se fuga recipere_ (B. G. 1. 11)—to save oneself by flight.
(g) Defeat—Massacre—Wounds—Losses
_proelio vinci, superari, inferiorem, victum discedere_—to be defeated
in fight, lose the battle.
_cladem hostibus afferre, inferre_—to inflict a defeat on the enemy.
_cladem accipere_—to suffer a defeat.
_ingentem caedem edere_ (Liv. 5. 13)—to cause great slaughter, carnage.
_stragem edere, facere_—to massacre.
_omnia strata sunt ferro_—all have perished by the sword.
_hostes, exercitum delere, concīdere_—to annihilate, cut up the enemy,
an army.
_hostes ad internecionem caedere, delere_ (Liv. 9. 26)—to absolutely
annihilate the enemy.
_hostium copias occidione occīdere_ (Liv. 2. 51)—to absolutely
annihilate the enemy.
_vulnus infligere alicui_—to wound a person (also used metaphorically).
_mortiferam plagam alicui infligere_—to inflict a mortal wound on some
one.
_vulnus (grave, mortiferum) accipere, excipere_—to be (seriously,
mortally) wounded.
_multis et illatis et acceptis vulneribus_ (B. G. 1. 50)—after many
had been wounded on both sides.
_vulneribus confectus_—weakened by wounds.
_vulnera (cicatrices) adversa_ (opp. _aversa_)—wounds (scars) on the
breast.
_vulnera adverso corpore accepta_—wounds (scars) on the breast.
_refricare_[1] _vulnus, cicatricem obductam_—to open an old wound.
_ex vulnere mori_ (Fam. 10. 33)—to die of wounds.
_magno cum detrimento_—with great loss.
_nostri circiter centum ceciderunt_—about a hundred of our men fell.
_ad unum omnes_[2] _perierunt_—they perished to a man.
[1] _refricare_ is also used metaphorically in the sense of renewing,
recalling, e.g. _dolorem_ (De Or. 2. 48); _memoriam_ (Phil. 3. 7. 18);
_desiderium_ (Fam. 5. 17. 4).
[2] The phrase _ad unum omnes_, to a man, without exception, occurs De
Am. 23. 86; Fam. 12. 14; Liv. 2. 55; and without _omnes_, Fam. 10. 16;
B. C. 3. 14.