Book 18
7
But a little later Domitius sent Favorinus the book which he had promised—I think it was one by Verrius Flaccus—in which the following was written with regard to questions of that kind: Festus, p. xvi, Müller. that senatus (senate) was used both of a place and of persons; civitas (state) of a situation and a town, also of the rights of a community, and of a body of men; further that tribus (tribes) and decuriae (decuries) designated places, privileges and persons, and that contio had three meanings: the place and tribunal from which speaking was done, as Marcus Tullius in his speech, In Reply to the Address of Quintus Metelius, says: Frag. 4, p. 946, Orelli. I mounted the tribunal (contionem); the people assembled. It also signifies an assembly of the people gathered together, since the same Marcus Tullius says in his Orator: § 168. I have often heard audiences (contiones) cry out, when words ended in a proper rhythm; for the ears expect the thought to be expressed in harmonious words. It likewise designated the speech itself which was made to the people. See note 1, p. 320. Gellius has given the meanings in the wrong order.
