margarīta, ae, f., and margarī-tum, i, n., = μαργαρίτης (λίθος), a pearl, Form margarita (class.), Varr. ap. Non. 213, 30: nego ullam gemmam fuisse, aut margaritam, quin abstulerit, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 1, § 1: ornatus margaritarum, id. Or. 39, 78; cf. Quint. 11, 1, 3: linea margaritarum, Dig. 35, 2, 26: Britannici, Plin. 9, 35, 53, § 105: una pretiosa, Vulg. Matt. 13, 46.

— Prov.: ne mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos, do not cast your pearls before swine, Vulg. Matt. 7, 6.

— Form margaritum (rare, not in Cic.): arma margarito candicantia, Varr. ap. Non. 213, 24: gignit et Oceanus margarita, Tac. Agr. 12; Dig. 19, 5, 17, § 1; Tert. ad Ux. 2, 5; id. de Pall. 5; Prud. στεφ. 10, 648; id. Psych. 873.

—As a term of endearment, pearl, treasure: Tiberinum margaritum, said of Maecenas, Aug. ap. Macr. S. 2, 4; Petr. 63, 3.