Lewis & Short

vēlĭfĭcor, ātus (inf. parag. velificarier, Afr. Com. 267), 1, v. dep. n. [velum-facio], to make sail, spread sail, sail.

  1. I. Lit. (rare; not in Cic.): (ratis) Caerula ad infernos velificata lacus, Prop. 2, 28 (3, 25), 40: velificantes triumphantium in modum, Flor. 3, 7, 3; Mel. 3, 7, 2.
  2. II. Trop., with dat., to make sail for, i. e. to exert one’s self to effect, procure, or gain a thing (class.): honori suo velificari, Cic. Agr. 1, 9, 27: ne aut velificatus alicui dicaris, aut, etc., Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 10, 2: favori civium, Flor. 1, 9, 5.