Lewis & Short

ob-tĕgo (collat. form obtĭgo, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 8), xi, ctum, 3, v. a., to cover over, cover up (for protection or concealment) (syn.: obtendo, velo, celo; class.).

  1. I. Lit.: insuper lingua bubula obtegito, Cato, R. R. 40: in pectus perpluit meum, neque jam umquam obtigere possum, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 8: domus arboribus obtecta, Verg. A. 2, 300: armis, Caes. B. C. 3, 19: se servorum et libertorum corporibus, Cic. Sest. 35, 76: os obtegendum, fauces velandae, Cels. 3, 22.
  2. II. Trop., to veil, hide, conceal, keep secret: obtegere errata, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 23: vitia multis virtutibus obtecta, Cic. Cael. 18, 43: ut adulescentiae turpitudo obscuritate obtegatur, id. Vatin. 5, 11: nihil, id. Att. 1, 18, 1: scelera nuper reperta priscis verbis, Tac. A. 4, 19: flagitia, id. ib. 13, 33.
    With gen.: animus audax, sui obtegens in alios criminator, Tac. A. 4, 1.
    1. B. To protect: aegre precibus meliorum obtectus, Tac. A. 16, 5.