conspergo (in MSS. also conspar-go; cf. 1. aspergo), si, sum, 3, v. a. [spargo].
- I. To sprinkle, moisten, besprinkle, bespatter, strew (very freq. and class.).
- A. Lit.
- (α) With acc. and abl.: fores vino, Plaut. Curc. 1, 1, 80: aras multo sanguine, Lucr. 4, 1233: terram tabo, id. 3, 661: me lacrimis, Cic. Planc. 41, 99: carnem sale, Col. 12, 55, 3: terram rore, Plin. 2, 8, 6, § 38: semen cinere, id. 20, 1, 2, § 3: tracta placentae farinae L. II. (i. e. libris duabus), Cato, R. R. 76, 2 al.
Poet.: herbas viridantes floribus, Lucr. 2, 33: caput Tauri stellis frequentibus, Cic. N. D. 2, 43, 111.
- (β) Without abl.: consperge (humum) ante aedes, Plaut. Stich. 2, 2, 30; cf.: humum aestuantem, Phaedr. 2, 5, 15: vias propter pulverem, Suet. Calig. 43 fin.
- B. Trop. of oratorical ornament, to besprinkle or strew, to cover (the image taken from flowers): (oratio) conspersa sit quasi verborum sententiarumque floribus, Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 96: quae quādam hilaritate conspersimus, id. Ac. 1, 2, 8; * Quint. 8, 5, 28.
- II. To scatter, sprinkle: vinum vetus, Col. 12, 39, 3 dub.