“ The word Lentulitas (“Lentulism”; cf. Appietas) is coined by Cicero (Ad Fam. iii. 7, 5) to express the attributes of a pronounced aristocrat. The three first of the name were L. Cornelius Lentulus (consul 327 B.C.) , Servius Cornelius Lentulus (consul 303) and L. Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus (consul 275) . Their connexion with the later Lentuli (especially those of the Ciceronian period) is very obscure and difficult to establish. The following members of the family deserve mention.
Publius Cornelius Lentulus, nicknamed Sura, one of the chief figures in the Catilinarian conspiracy. ”

“ When accused by Sulla (to whom he had been quaestor in 81 B.C.) of having squandered the public money, he refused to render any account, but insolently held out the calf of his leg (sura) , on which part of the person boys were punished when they made mistakes in playing ball. ”