Editing Cato the Elder (section)

===Cognomen Cato===
His ancestors for three generations had been named Marcus Porcius, and it was said by [[Plutarch]] that at first he was known by the additional [[cognomen]] ''Priscus'', but was afterwards called Cato&mdash;a word (from Latin ''catus'') indicating 'common sense that is the result of natural wisdom combined with experience'.<ref>[[Plutarch]], ''Life of Cato the Elder'', 1.</ref> Priscus, like ''Major'', may have been merely an epithet used to distinguish him from the later [[Cato the Younger]]. 

There is no precise information as to when he first received the title of Cato, which may have been given in childhood as a symbol of distinction. The qualities implied in the word Cato were acknowledged by the plainer and less outdated title of ''Sapiens'', by which he was so well known in his old age that [[Cicero]] says it became his virtual ''cognomen''.<ref>[[Cicero]], ''Laelius On Friendship'', 2.</ref> From the number and eloquence of his speeches, he was a gifted orator,<ref>[[Justin (historian)|Justinus]], xxxiii. 2</ref><ref>[[Gellius]], xvii. 21.</ref> but Cato the Censor (''Cato Censorius''), and Cato the Elder are now his most common, as well as his most characteristic names, since he carried out the office of Censor with extraordinary standing and was the only Cato who ever held it.