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pollice versō

[ˈpɔl.lɪ.kɛ ˈwɛr.soː]

phrase

LanguageLatin

Meaning
  1. with the thumb turned (how spectators indicated favor or displeasure at gladiatorial games).
  2. with the thumb turned
  3. A Latin phrase describing a gesture used by spectators at ancient Roman gladiatorial games to signal their opinion of a fighter.
Examples

Spectātōrēs pollice versō pugnātōrem dīiūdicāvērunt.

The spectators judged the fighter with the thumb turned.

Pronunciationˈpɔl.lɪ.kɛ ˈwɛr.soː

Part of speechphrase

Usage noteHistorically significant phrase used to describe the crowd's verdict on a gladiator's fate.

Status: AI-generated — awaiting native speaker review

This entry was generated automatically and is awaiting verification by a native speaker. Native speakers can verify or correct it in the LanguageKnow app.

Source: English Wiktionary via kaikki.org (Wiktextract) — Wave 4 (CC-BY-SA-4.0), adapted.