Synonyms:
Pliny, Pliny_the_Elder, Gaius_Plinius_Secundus
Meaning: Roman author of an encyclopedic natural history; died while observing the eruption of Vesuvius (23-79)
Synonyms:
Pliny, Pliny_the_Younger, Gaius_Plinius_Caecilius_Secundus
Meaning: Roman writer and nephew of Pliny the Elder; author of books of letters that commented on affairs of the day (62-113)
Usage examples
Under Vespasian and Titus, Pliny, the naturalist, exclaimed: "Large estates have ruined Italy, and are ruining the provinces."
That some of the women had literary ability of a high order is indicated by a letter of Pliny to one of his correspondents, in which occurs the following passage:
Scarcely less distinguished for her taste in literature, and for her talent as a letter writer, was Pliny's wife, Calphurnia, who, at his request, wrote to him in his absence every day and sometimes even twice a day.
Pliny has expressed belief in the efficacy of the fasting spittle for curing disease, and referred to the custom of spitting to avert witchcraft. In England, Scotland, and Ireland spitting customs are not yet obsolete.