Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A graduated selection of passages from Latin or Greek authors, usually with notes and a vocabulary, for translation by school-boys: as, a Latin delectus; Valpy's Greek Delectus.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A name given to an elementary book for learners of Latin or Greek.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun dated An elementary book for learners of Latin or Greek.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin, selection, from deligere, delectum, to select.

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Examples

  • As he was making assurance doubly sure, that it really was the delectus-crib, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and starting suddenly, found Mr Prichard standing, looking over him into his desk.

    Wilton School or, Harry Campbell's Revenge Fred E. Weatherly

  • Whether, therefore, _delighted_ be derived from the Latin _delectus_ or not, I still believe that it means

    Notes and Queries, Number 46, September 14, 1850 Various

  • Harry pored over his delectus; and in the corner Mrs Campbell sat and wept.

    Wilton School or, Harry Campbell's Revenge Fred E. Weatherly

  • "Campbell, attend to your work;" or, "Campbell, don't look out of the window;" or, when in a facetious mood, "Campbell, you cannot learn your delectus by the light of nature."

    Wilton School or, Harry Campbell's Revenge Fred E. Weatherly

  • KENNEDY'S suggestion, "that the word represents the Latin participle _delectus_."

    Notes and Queries, Number 43, August 24, 1850 Various

  • Nam utilissimus idem ac brevissimus bonarum malarumque rerum delectus, cogitare quid aut nolueris sub alio principe, aut volueris.2

    The Social Contract Jean Jacques Rousseau 1947

  • With regard to the two boys it was much the same, only instead of accomplishments, I was to get the greatest possible quantity of Latin grammar and Valpy's delectus into their heads, in order to fit them for school – the greatest possible quantity at least, without trouble to themselves.

    Agnes Grey 1931

  • He wrote a sharp and learned criticism of the "Epigrammatum delectus" of Port-Royal (1659), "De epigrammate liber et epigrammatum libri tres" (1669), showing delicate and solid knowledge of Catullus, Martial, and the Greek anthology.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 15: Tournely-Zwirner 1840-1916 1913

  • True, a child whose delectus is taken from Cornelius Nepos or Caesar will be better prepared perhaps for going on to Virgil and Cicero than a child whose delectus is taken from the Vulgate.

    Matthew Arnold Russell, G W E 1904

  • A chapter or two from the story of Joseph, a chapter or two from Deuteronomy, and the first two chapters of St. Luke's Gospel would be the sort of delectus we want; add to them a vocabulary and a simple grammar of the main forms of the Latin language, and you have a perfectly compact and cheap school book, and yet all that you need.

    Matthew Arnold Russell, G W E 1904

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