capitālis e, adj. with comp. caput, of the head, chief, foremost, pre - eminent, distinguished: Ingenium, O.: ille, a writer of the first rank: erat capitalior, quod, etc., more distinguished.

—In law, of life, involving life, capital: accusare alquem rei capitalis, of a capital crime: cui rei capitalis dies dicta sit, L.: reus rerum capitalium: flagitia, T.: noxa, L.: iudicium trium virorum capitalium, who had charge of the prisons and of executions.

—Fig., deadly, pernicious, irreconcilable, bitter: flagitia, outrageous, T.: hostis, a deadly enemy: ira, H.: oratio, dangerous: nulla capitalior pestis.