prŏcer, ĕris, in sing. only Juv. 8, 26, and Capitol. Max. 2; prŏcĕres, um (anteclass. collat. form prŏcus, i, in the gen. plur.: procum patricium in descriptione classium quam facit, Serv. Tullius, significat procerum, Fest. p. 249 Müll.; cf.: jam (ut censoriae tabulae loquuntur) fabrum et procum audeo dicere, non fabrorum et procorum, Cic. Or. 46, 156), m. [pro and root kar- of creo; cf. procērus].
- I. Lit., a chief, noble; plur., the leading men, chiefs, nobles, princes (class.; syn.: primores, optimates, primi): scindunt proceres Pergamum, the Grecian chiefs, princes, * Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 130: audiebam nostros proceres clamitantes, Cic. Fam. 13, 15, 1: Latinorum, Liv. 1, 45, 2: Etruscorum, id. 2, 10: ego proceribus civitatis annumeror, Tac. A. 14, 53: Caecina Largus e proceribus, Plin. 17, 1, 1, § 5: delectos populi ad proceres, Verg. A. 3, 58: castrorum, Luc. 7, 69: in procerum coetu, id. 8, 261; Juv. 2, 121; 3, 213: proceres rerum, Sil. 11, 142.
Transf., of bees: procerum seditio, Col. 9, 9, 6.
In sing.: agnosco procerem, Juv. 8, 26: in pueritiā fuit pastor nonnumquam et procer, a leader, captain, Capitol. Max. 2.
- II. Trop., the foremost or most celebrated men, the masters in an art, science, etc. (post-Aug.): proceres artis ejus (medicinae), Plin. 29, 1, 8, § 26: sapientiae, id. 7, 30, 31, § 112: gulae, id. 9, 17, 30, § 66: indicatis in genere utroque (pingendi) proceribus, id. 35, 11, 40, § 138.
1. prŏcus, i, v. procer init.
2. prŏcus, i (gen. plur. procūm, Cic. Or. 46, 156), m.
- I. A wooer, suitor: proci dicuntur, qui poscunt aliquam in matrimonium, Graece μνηστῆρες. Est enim procare poscere, etc., Fest. p. 249 Müll.: me natam nulli veterum sociare procorum Fas erat, Verg. A. 12, 27: Penelope difficilis procis, Hor. C. 3, 10, 11: apotheca procis intacta est, id. S. 2, 5, 7; 78; Ov. M. 4, 794; 9, 10; 14, 670: proci loripedes, said of slow people, Plaut. Poen. 3, 1, 7.
- * II. Trop., of canvassers, a suitor: impudentes proci, Cic. Brut. 96, 330.