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ambages

ambages, (a going around); circumlocution, obscurity, digression

Frieze-Dennison Vergil

ambāgēs, is, f.: a going about; a winding, 6.29; (fig.), details, particulars, story, 1.342; mysteries, 6.99. (in good usage in the abl. sing. and all cases of pl.) (ambigō, go about)
ambāges, is, f. (nom. and gen. sing. dub., though mentioned in Charis. p. 25 P. and found in Tac. H. 5, 13 MS.; but found in abl. sing.: ambage, Ov. H. 7, 149; Plin. 2, 9, 6, § 41; Val. Fl. 1, 227; also, ambagine, Manil. 4, 304; the plur. is complete, gen. ambagum, Ov. M. 7, 761; cf. Schneid. Gr. II. p. 403) [ambi-ago], a going round, a roundabout way (poet.; in prose only post-Aug.; syn.: ambago, sinus, flexus, circuitus).
  • I Lit.: variarum ambage viarum (of the windings of the labyrinth), Ov. M. 8, 161; cf.: dolos tecti ambagesque resolvit, Verg. A. 6, 29: (Luna) multiformi ambage torsit ingenia contemplantium, Plin. 2, 9, 6, § 41: itinerum ambages, id. 36, 13, 19, § 2: longis ambagibus, Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 226.—
  • II Of speech.
    • A Circumlocution, evasion, digression: ambages mitte, Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 81 (751); so id. Ps. 5, 1, 10 (1255) (not elsewh. in Plaut.): ambages mihi Narrare occipit, * Ter. Heaut. 318: per ambages et longa exorsa tenere, Verg. G. 2, 46; Liv. 9, 11 fin.: ne te longis ambagibus morer, Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 82: missis ambagibus, without circumlocution, directly, id. S. 2, 5, 9; Ov. M. 3, 692; 10, 19.—
    • B Obscurity, ambiguity (as kindr. with ambiguus).—So of the Theban Sphinx: immemor ambagum, Ov. M. 7, 761; id. F. 4, 261.—Of the lang. of oracles: ambage nexa Arcana tegere, Sen. Oedip. 218: eā ambage Chalcedonii monstrabantur, Tac. A. 12, 63; 2, 54.—Also transf. to actions: per ambages, in an obscure, enigmatical manner, Liv. 1, 56; 1, 54; Plin. 19, 8, 53, § 169.

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