An excelent philosopher, being a childe, learned of the wise men of Chaldea astronomie and their diuinitie: afterward he went into Persia, to learne GeometryAfter he returned to Athens, where he gaue his possessions and richesse innumerable vnto the weale pablike, reseruing a litle gardeyne, wherein he monght at more libertie searche out the secreies of nature. Hee wrote many wonderfull workes in naturall philosophie and phisicke. When he behelde the citie of Athens, hee continuatly langhed at their foolish diligence, which syared no paines to get authoritie and riches, that they were not sure to keepe: which laboured to get their children great possessions, who either dyed before theyr fatheres. or else onerlyuiug them, shortl spent away all that their fathers left them But the Atheniens not perceyning the cause of hi laughter, thinking him madde, eaused Hippocrates the phisition to go vnto him who perceyuing the ocasion of his laughter, sayd: Dem- critus is not madde, but the Athenians be madde, at whom he doth laugh. Hee was before the incarnation of Christe. 492. yeares. Demodocus. The name of an Harper, of whome Homere maketh mention.

I. A celebrated philosopher born at Abdera, an adherent of the Eleatic school, and the originator of the atomic theory, Lucr. 3, 372; Cic. Tusc. 1, 11; id. Fin. 1, 6; id. Ac. 2, 17 sq.; id. Fat. 10 et saep.; Hor. Ep. 1, 12, 12; id. A. P. 297; Juv. 10, 34 al.—

B. Derivv.

1. Dēmŏcrĭtĭcus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to Democritus: philosophi, his followers, Cic. Tusc. 1, 34 (in Cic. de Or. 1, 10, 42: Democritii, see the foll.).—

2. Dē-mŏcrĭtēus or -īus, a, um, adj., *dhmokri/teios, the same: Anaxarchus, Cic. N. D. 3, 33; id. Tusc. 2, 22: Nausiphanes, id. N. D. 1, 26.—Dēmŏcrĭtīi, ōrum, m., his followers, Cic. de Or. 1, 10, 42.—Hence,

b. Subst.: Dēmŏcrĭtēa, ōrum, n., the doctrines of Democritus, Cic. N. D. 1, 26, 73; id. Div. 2, 13 fin.—

II. Of Sicyon, friend of Cicero, Cic. Fam. 13, 78.