A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

Λέντλος, the name of one of the haughtiest patrician families of the Cornelian Gens [CORNELIAGENS]; so that Cicero coins the words Appietas and Lentulitas to express the qualities of the high patrician party (ad Fam. 3.7.5). When we find plebeians bearing the name (as a tribune of

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the plebs, Cic. pro Lege Manil. 19), they were no doubt descendants of freedmen. The name was evidently derived from lens, like Cicero from cicer, &c. (Cic. Att. 1.19.2; Plin. Nat. 18.3.)

For the Lentuli Marcellini, see MARCELLUS.