A. (Acc. to voveo, I.) A solemn promise made to some deity, a vow (freq. and class.; esp. in plur.): “qui (deus) numquam nobis occurrit neque in optatis neque in votis,” Cic. N. D. 1, 14, 36: “nefaria vota,” id. Clu. 68, 194: “nonne animadvertis ex tot tabulis pictis, quam multi votis vim tempestatis effugerint?” id. N. D. 3, 37, 89: “voto et promisso teneri,” id. Att. 12, 18, 1: “obstrictum esse religione voti,” id. ib. 12, 43, 2: “obligari voti sponsione deo,” id. Leg. 2, 16, 41: “cum de illo aegroto vota faciebant,” id. Att. 8, 16, 1: “vota facere,” id. Fam. 7, 2, 4; id. Mil. 15, 41; id. Tusc. 5, 1, 2 al.: “nuncupare,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 34: “suscipere,” id. N. D. 3, 39, 93: “concipere,” Ov. M. 7, 594; Liv. 5, 25, 7: “debere diis,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 55, § 123: “solvere,” id. Phil. 3, 4, 11: “reddere,” id. Leg. 2, 9, 22: “Jovi reddere,” Ov. Tr. 3, 12, 46: “suscipere et solvere,” Plin. Ep. 10, 35 (44): “persolvere,” id. ib. 10, 100 (101): “voto se exsolvere,” Petr. 85: “exsequi,” Verg. A. 5, 53: voti damnari, i. e. to obtain one's prayer or wish Liv. 5, 25, 4; 7, 28, 4; 27, 45, 8; v. Zumpt, Gram. § 447 fin.: “voti reus,” Verg. A. 5, 237: “voti liberari,” Liv. 5, 28, 1.—
2. Transf.
a. A thing solemnly promised, that which is vowed or devoted, a votive offering (mostly poet.): “lustramurque Jovi, votisque incendimus aras,” with burnt-offerings, Verg. A. 3, 279: “Danai in voto (i. e. equo Trojano) latent,” Petr. 89; cf.: “iste ... de bonis illius in aede Veneris argenteum Cupidinem posuit. Sic etiam fortunis hominum abutebatur ad nocturna vota cupiditatum suarum,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142.—
b. Vota, a day on which vows were made for the good of the State (post-class.), Capitol. Pert. 6; Vop. Tac. 9; cf. Dig. 50, 16, 233, § 1.—
B. Transf.
1. (Acc. to voveo, II.) A wish, desire, longing, prayer (perh not ante-Aug.): “ea esse vota, eam esse voluntatem omnium, ut, etc.,” Liv. 2, 15, 3: “ejus me compotem voti facere vos potestis,” id. 7, 40, 6: “quoniam res Romana contra spem votaque ejus velut resurgeret,” id. 24, 45, 3; 35, 42, 5: “quod omnibus votis petendum erat,” id. 32, 21, 35: “magnarum cogitationum,” Petr. 115: “audivere di mea vota,” Hor. C. 4, 13, 1: “haec loca sunt voto fertiliora tuo,” Ov. A. A. 1, 90; id. Tr. 1, 2, 1: “votum in amante novum,” id. M. 3, 468: “voti potens,” id. ib. 8, 80: “quod omnium sit votum parentum, ut, etc.,” Quint. 11, 1, 82: “vota parentium,” id. 1, 2, 25: id enim voto meo sufficit; “illud supra votum, etc.,” Plin. Ep. 5, 8, 3: “Darius votum meum implevit,” Curt. 4, 13, 24; 4, 13, 8; Sen. Polyb. 10, 6: “cunctis super vota fluentibus,” Tac. H. 3, 48; Sen. Ben. 6, 30, 1: “votum aliquem confodiendi,” Suet. Aug. 51; cf. id. ib. 58: “hoc erat in votis: modus agri non ita magnus,” Hor. S. 2, 6, 1: “esse in voto,” Pers. 3, 48; cf.: “sed hoc votum est et rara felicitas,” is rather a thing to be wished, Quint. 12, 5, 6 Spald.; so, votum est, ut, etc., it is to be wished that, etc., Cels. 6, 6, 1: “an venit in votum Attalicis ex urbibus una?” Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 5: “non sine votis: O rus, quando ego te aspiciam?” id. S. 2, 6, 59. —Of inanimate things: “alioquin vota arborum frugumque communia sunt nivis diutinas sedere,” Plin. 17, 2, 2, § 14.—