in geometry, is the same with what is otherwise called the perimeter of a figure.

Ambit was particularly used, in antiquity, to denote a space of ground to be left vacant betwixt one building and another. By the laws of the twelve tab-

bles, houses were not to be built contiguous, but an ambit or space of 2½ feet was to be left about each for fear of fire.—The ambitus of a tomb or monument, denoted a certain number of feet, in length and breadth, around the same, within which the sanctity assigned to it was limited. The whole ground wherein a tomb was erected, was not to be secrated from the common uses; for this reason, it was frequent to inscribe the ambit on it, that it might be known how far its sanctity extended: thus, in fronte pedes tot, in argum pedes tot.