Ciceronian

a. and sb. [ad. L. Cicerōniān-us pertaining to Cicero.]

  A.  adj. Pertaining to, or after the manner of, Cicero; resembling Cicero in pure Latinity, etc.

1661.  Boyle, Style Scriptures, 168. Our strict Ciceronian Rules.

1751.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 118, ¶ 5. Observations, conveyed in Ciceronian eloquence.

1882.  M. Pattison, Ess., I. 124. The solemn and empty commonplaces of the ordinary Ciceronian Latinists.

  B.  sb. An admirer or imitator of Cicero’s style.

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 185. Not worthy the finesse of a Ciceronian.

1758.  Jortin, Erasm., I. 164. The Ciceronians … confined them selves to words taken from Cicero, or authors who were contemporary with him.

1882.  M. Pattison, Ess., I. 124. The superstitious avoidance of new or post-Augustan words which the Ciceronians affected.

  Hence Ciceronianism, imitation of Cicero as a model of Latin style and diction; concr. a Ciceronian expression. So Ciceronianize v., to make Ciceronian; Ciceronic, † Ciceronical adjs. = CICERONIAN; Cicero(n)ically adv.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Let. R. Sidney (R.). So you can speak and write Latin, not barbarously, I never require great study in Ciceronianism, the chief abuse of Oxford, qui dum verba sectantur, res ipsas negligunt.

1644.  Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 42. Dwelling too much upon Ciceronianisms.

1860.  M. Pattison, Ess., I. 135. Free from the platitudes of Ciceronianism.

1824.  D’Israeli, Cur. Lit., Liter. Controv. Servile imitators of Cicero … everything with them was Ciceronianized.

1843.  Blackw. Mag., LIV. 703. There is a little affectation … of Ciceronic ambages.

1590.  Greene, Never too late (1600), 32. Hee and Isabel … began to be as Ciceronicall as they were amorous.

1809.  Sir Frantic the Reformer, 77.