I. Of or belonging to learning, learned, literary: “philologis et philotechnis rebus me delectans,” Vitr. 6 prooem. 4: “homines,” Sen. Apoc. 5, 4.—
II. Esp. of persons.
A. Scholarly, learned, versed in history, antiquities, and literature (implying a broader culture than grammaticus, litterator; “v. Krebs, Antibarb. 863 sq.): homines nobiles illi quidem, sed nullo modo philologi,” Cic. Att. 13, 12, 3.—Subst.: phĭlŏlŏgus , i, m. —
B. In gen., a person engaged in learned or literary pursuits, a man of letters, learned man, scholar (class.): “Atteius Philologi appellationem assumpsisse videtur, quia, sicut Eratosthenes, qui primus hoc cognomen sibi vindicavit, multiplici variāque doctrinā censebatur,” Suet. Gram. 10: cum Ciceronis librum de republicā prendit hinc philologus aliquis, hinc grammaticus, hinc philosophiae deditus, alius alio curam suam mittit; “... hoc subnotat (philologus): duos Romanos reges esse, etc.,” Sen. Ep. 108, 30.