I.gen. plur. dotium, Dig. 23, 3, 9, § 1 al.; “dotum,” Val. Max. 4, 4, 11; Tert. Cult. Fem. 2, 9), f. 1. do, like the Sicilian δωτίνη, from διδόναι, Varr. L. L. 5, § 175 Müll., a marriage portion, dowry (for syn. cf.: donum, largitio, munus, donatio, etc.).
I. Prop., Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 209; id. Ep. 2, 1, 11 et saep.; Ter. And. 5, 4, 47; id. Heaut. 5, 1, 64 sq. al.; Cic. Caecin. 25 fin.; id. Fl. 35; id. Att. 14, 13, 5; Caes. B. G. 6, 19, 1; Hor. S. 1, 2, 131; id. Ep. 1, 6, 36 et saep.—Cf. on the legal regulations respecting the dos and the t. t. used in them (dotis datio, dictio, promissio, etc.), Cod. Just. 5, 12; Dig. 23, 3 tit.: “De jure dotium,” Just. Inst. 2, 7, 3; Cod. Just. 5, 15: De dote cauta, non numerata; id. 5, 11: De dotis promissione et nuda pollicitatione; Dig. 33, 4 tit.: De dote praelegata; ib. 37, 7: De dotis collatione; cf. Rein's Privatr. p. 194 sq. —
II. Transf., a gift, endowment, talent, property, quality (freq. since the Aug. per.; cf.: “indoles, ingenium, facultates, virtutes): (juris civilis) artem verborum dote locupletasti,” Cic. de Or. 1, 55: “vinearum (pedamenta, vimina),” Col. 4, 30, 1; cf. “praediorum,” Dig. 33, 7, 2; ib. 20, § 3: “magnae uvarum,” Col. 3, 2, 17; cf.: “omnis unionum,” Plin. 9, 35, 56, § 112: “mulsi,” id. 22, 24, 50, § 108: “aquatilium,” id. 32, 11, 53, § 142: “formae,” Ov. M. 9, 717; cf. “oris,” id. ib. 5, 562: “corporis,” id. ib. 583: “ingenii (opp. bona corporis),” id. A. A. 2, 112; so Curt. 3, 6, 20: “corporis,” Sen. Vit. Beat. 8, 3: “corporis animique dotes,” Suet. Tit. 3; cf.: “naturae fortunaeque,” Plin. Ep. 3, 3, 4: “omnes belli et togae,” Vell. 1, 12, 3 et saep.: silvarum dotes, the delights, i. e. the chase, Grat. Cyn. 252: “est quoque carminibus meritas celebrare puellas Dos mea,” my gift, Ov. Am. 1, 10, 60: “infelix perii dotibus ipse meis,” id. Pont. 2, 7, 48: “dos erat ille (sc. Phaon) loci,” the ornament, id. H. 15, 146: “teneritas in dote (est),” is highly prized, Plin. 19, 8, 41, § 141.
