Lewis & Short

dē-fervesco, fervi and ferbui (defervi, Ter. Ad. 1, 2, 72; Cic. Clu. 39, 108; id. Or. 30, 107; Cato R. R. 96, 1; Plin. Ep. 9, 16, 2 al.: deferbui, Cic. Cael. 18, 43; 31, 77; Col. 12, 20, 2 et saep.), 3, v. n. (post-Aug.), to cease boiling, leave off raging.

  1. I. Lit.: ubi lupinus deferverit, Cato R. R. 96: aestus, Varr. R. R. 2, 2, 11: dum musteus fructus defervescat, Col. 9, 15 fin.; cf.: deferbuit mustum, id. 12, 38, 3; 12, 20, 2: ubi caelum enituit et deferbuit mare, Gell. 19, 1, 7.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. Of the fire of passion, to cease raging, to cool down, to be allayed, assuaged (a favorite expression of Cic.; elsewh. rare): ut ulciscendi vim differant in tempus aliud, dum defervescat ira: defervescere autem certe significat ardorem animi invita ratione excitatum, Cic. Tusc. 4, 36 fin.: sperabam jam defervisse adolescentiam, Ter. Ad. 1, 2, 72; cf.: cum adolescentiae cupiditates defervissent, Cic. Cael. 18, 43; id. Or. 30, 107: quasi deferverat oratio, id. Brut. 91 fin.: hominum studia defervisse, id. Clu. 39: dum defervescat haec gratulatio, id. Fam. 9, 2, 4; Plin. Ep. 9, 13, 4: regis indignatio deferbuerat, Vulg. Esth. 2, 1.
    2. B. (Fig. from the fermenting of wine.) To become clarified, clear: novi versiculi ut primum videbuntur defervisse, Plin. Ep. 9, 16 fin.