114 On the UTILITY of defining 
TueE-definition given by Servius of humidus, feems to have 
been very properly rejected by Ausonius Popma, whofe re- - 
marks “ de differentiis verborum,” are often both ingenious 
and folid. _‘* Humidum,” fays Servius, “ quod extrinfecus 
** habet aliquid humoris * ;’’ to which PopMa refufes to affent, 
“ Cui non adfentior. Humidum enim proprie eft quod in pro- 
“ fundo continet humiditatem, ut terra t.”’ 
Huminus is transferred from the fubje&t to which, from its 
etymology, it appears to have been originally applied, to others 
that ftrongly refemble it. Thus, Virci fpeaks of the “ humida 
“ nox,” and means by it that dampnefs which prevails in the air, 
next the furface of the earth, from the conftant falling of the 
dew in the courfe of the night. It is transferred by Ovip to 
the clouds, and by Vitrruvius to thofe winds which ordinarily 
produce rain. 
—— cadit Eurus et humida furgunt 
Nubila f. 
“ Aufter et reliqui (venti) qui a folis curfu funt humidifimi §.” 
In both thofe applications of the word, there is a reference 
to a fupply of the wafte, and of courfe to the long continuance 
of the fall expected. 
Huminvs is occafionally applied to bodies impregnated with 
moifture, which they receive from others that generated it. 
Cicero fpeaks thus of a bed bedewed with tears, “ Qui 
‘* jacet in lecto humido, 
Ejulatu, queftu, gemitu, fremitibus, 
Refonando, multum flebiles voces refert **. 
The 
* In Virg. Ec. 10. 20. § Vitruv. 8. 21. 
+ Lib. 2. 133. ¥** Cic. Tule. 9. 2. 33+ 
$ Virg. ZEn, 3. 198. 
