I.a. [callum].
I. Neutr.
A. Lit., to be callous, to be thickskinned (rare): “plagis costae callent,” Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 4; Caecil. ap. Non. p. 258, 10: “callent rure manus,” Auct. Aetn. 260; Plin. 11, 37, 84, § 211.—
B. Trop. *
1. To be hardened, insensible, unfeeling: in illis rebus exercitatus animus callere jam debet atque omnia minoris existimare, Serv. Sulp. ap. Cic. Fam. 4, 5, 2; cf. callisco.—
2. To be practised, to be wise by experience, to be skilful, versed in; in a pun on the literal sense A. supra: “callum aprugnum callere aeque non sinam,” Plaut. Poen. 3, 2, 2; cf. id. ib. v. 1; so id. Pers. 2, 5, 4: “omnes homines ad suum quaestum callent,” id. Truc. 5, 40 (cf. id. ib. 2, 4, 62: callidus ad quaestum); Amm. 15, 2, 4: melius quam viri callent mulieres, Att. ap. Non. p. 257, 31 (Trag. Rel. v. 28 Rib.): “satin' astu et fallendo callet?” id. ib. p. 258, 6 (Trag. Rel. v. 475 ib.): “quod periti sumus in vitā atque usu callemus magis,” id. ib. 258, 5: “si in re navali, cujus esset ignarus, offendisset, eo plus in ea, quorum usu calleret, spei nactus,” Liv. 35, 26, 10: “cottidiano usu ejus (negotii) callebant,” Val. Max. 8, 12, 1; Plin. 8, 25, 38, § 91; 9, 29, 46, § 86: “augurandi studio Galli praeter caeteros callent,” Just. 24, 4, 3: arte, Ser. ap. Non. p. 258, 2; Sol. 8: “bellis callere,” by military experience, Sil. 6, 90 sq.: fidibus, App. Flor. n. 18.—
II. Act., to know by experience or practice, to know, have the knowledge of, understand (freq., esp. in the poets; “in Cic. very rare): memini et scio et calleo et commemini,” Plaut. Pers. 2, 1, 8; cf. id. ib. 3, 1, 52; id. Poen. 3, 1, 71: “cuncta perdocte callet,” id. Most. 1, 3, 122: “alicujus sensum,” Ter. Ad. 4, 1, 17: istaec malitiosa non tam calleo, Afran. ap. Non. p. 482, 10 (Com. Rel. v. 124 Rib.): “in colubras callet cantiunculam,” Pompon. ib. 482, 9 (Com. Rel. v. 118 ib.): “jura,” Cic. Balb. 14, 32; Gell. 16, 10, 3: “urbanas rusticasque res pariter,” Liv. 39, 40, 4: “artem,” Tac. A. 13, 3: “legitimum sonum digitis callemus et aure,” Hor. A. P. 274 al. —
(β).
With inf. as object: multaque de rerum mixturā dicere callent, * Lucr. 2, 978; Hor. C. 4, 9, 49; Juv. 4, 142; Pers. 5, 105.—
(γ).
With acc. and inf.: quem Marcellini consiliarium fuisse callebant, Sisenn. ap. Non. p. 258, 8.—
(δ).
With rel.-clause: “quo pacto id fieri soleat, calleo,” Ter. Heaut. 3, 2, 37.—Hence, callens , entis, P. a., acquainted with, versed in, skilful, expert (very rare): “qui sunt vaticinandi callentes,” Plin. 21, 31, 105, § 182: “utriusque linguae,” Gell. 17, 5, 3: “bellandi,” Amm. 16, 12, 32.—* Adv.: callenter , skilfully, cunningly; for the class. callide, App. M. 4, p. 150, 3.
