I.a hunter.
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: quasi venator tu quidem es, dies atque noctes cum cane aetatem exigis, Plaut. Cas. 2, 5, 11; Cic. Tusc. 2, 17, 40; Caes. B. G. 6, 27; Hor. C. 1, 1, 26; 1, 37, 19; id. S. 1, 2, 105: “COLLEGIVM VENATORVM,” Inscr. Murat. 531, 2.—In apposit.: “venator canis,” a hunting-dog, hound, Verg. A. 12, 751: “equus,” a hunting-horse, hunter, Stat. Th. 9, 685; cf. venatrix.—
B. In partic. (cf. venatio, I. B.), one who fights with wild beasts in the arena, Dig. 48, 19, 8, § 11; Tert. ad Mart. 5.—
II. Trop.: “venator adest nostris consiliis cum auritis plagis,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 14: “physicus, id est speculator venatorque naturae,” Cic. N. D. 1, 30, 83.