I.acc. sing. messim, Cato, R. R. 134; Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 5; id. Ep. 5, 2, 53; Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 6; v. Neue, Formenl. 1, p. 200), f. (masc.: non magno messe, Lucil. ap. Non. 213 fin.) [id.], a reaping and ingathering of the fruits of the earth, a harvest (class.).
I. Lit.: “messis proprio nomine dicitur in iis, quae metuntur, maxime in frumento,” Varr. R. R. 1, 50, 1; Quint. 5, 9, 5; 8, 3, 8; Cic. de Or. 1, 58, 249; Verg. G. 1, 219 al.: “seges matura messi,” Liv. 2, 5: “messem hordaceam facere, aream in messem creta praeparare,” to get in the harvest, Plin. 18, 30, 71, § 295: “messe amissā,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 54, § 125: “messis feria, Cod. 3, 10, 2.—Of the gathering of honey,” Verg. G. 4, 231.—
B. Transf., concr., harvest.
1. The harvested crops, the harvest: “illius immensae ruperunt horrea messes,” Verg. G. 1, 49; id. ib. 1, 314; id. E. 8, 99; Just. 24, 7, 6: Cilicum et Arabum, the harvest of the Arabians, i. e. saffron and frankincense, Stat. S. 3, 3, 34: “bellatura,” the men that sprang from the dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus, Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 321. —
2. The crops that are to be harvested, the standing crops, the harvest: “messium incensores, vel vinearum olivarumve,” Paul. Sent. 5, 20, 5: messes suas urere, prov., like vineta sua caedere, i. e. to destroy one's own work (e. g. one's own pupils), Tib. 1, 2, 98: adhuc tua messis in herba est, your wheat is still in the blade, i. e. you are premature in your expectations, Ov. H. 17, 263.—
3. The time of harvest, harvest-time: “si frigus erit, si messis,” Verg. E. 5, 70.—Poet. transf. for a year: “sexagesima messis,” Mart. 4, 79, 1. —
II. Trop.: “pro benefactis mali messem metere,” to receive evil for good, to reap ingratitude, Plaut. Ep. 5, 2, 53: “uberem messem mali,” id. Rud. 3, 2, 23: “(morum malorum) metere messem maxumam,” id. Trin. 1, 1, 11: “si attigeris ostium, jam tibi hercle in ore fiet messis mergis pugneis,” id. Rud. 3, 4, 58: Sullani temporis messem, the harvest of the time of Sylla, when so many were killed, Cic. Par. 6, 2, 46; (in eccl. Lat.) the time for winning souls to the truth: “transiit messis, finita est aestas, et nos salvati non sumus,” Vulg. Jer. 8, 20.—Of the persons to be gathered into the church: “messis quidem multa,” Vulg. Luc. 10, 2; cf. id. Johan. 4, 35. —Of the end of the world: “sinite utraque crescere usque ad messem,” Vulg. Matt. 13, 30; cf. v. 39.
