PRISCIANUS, an eminent grammarian, born at Cæsarea, taught at Constantinople with great reputation about the year 525. Laurentius Valla calls Priscian, Donatus, and Servius, triumviri in re grammatica; and thinks none of the ancients who wrote after them fit to be mentioned with them. He composed a work De arte grammatica, which was first printed by Aldus at
(A) Apportus or apportagium (from portare), an acknowledgment, oblation, or obvention, to the mother house or church. Du Gange.
Priscillianists
Pristis
at Venice in 1476; and another De naturalibus questionibus, which he dedicated to Chosroes king of Persia: beside which, he translated Dionysius's description of the world into Latin verse. A person who writes false Latin, is proverbially said to "break Priscillian's head."