I.a pearl,
a. Form margarita (class.), Varr. ap. Non. 213, 30: “nego ullam gemmam fuisse, aut margaritam, quin abstulerit,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 1, § 1: “ornatus margaritarum,” id. Or. 39, 78; cf. Quint. 11, 1, 3: “linea margaritarum,” Dig. 35, 2, 26: “Britannici,” Plin. 9, 35, 53, § 105: “una pretiosa,” Vulg. Matt. 13, 46.— “Prov.: ne mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos,” do not cast your pearls before swine, Vulg. Matt. 7, 6.—
b. Form margaritum (rare, not in Cic.): arma margarito candicantia, Varr. ap. Non. 213, 24: “gignit et Oceanus margarita,” Tac. Agr. 12; Dig. 19, 5, 17, § 1; Tert. ad Ux. 2, 5; id. de Pall. 5; Prud. στεφ. 10, 648; id. Psych. 873.—As a term of endearment, pearl, treasure: Tiberinum margaritum, said of Mæcenas, Aug. ap. Macr. S. 2, 4; Petr. 63, 3.
