ex-ŏlesco, olēvi, ētum, 3, v. inch. n.
- I. To grow out, to attain its full size, grow up.
- A. In gen., so only in the part. perf. exo-letus, a, um, grown up, full grown, mature: exoletus qui excessit olescendi id est crescendi modum, Paul. ex Fest. p. 5, 7 Müll.; cf.: exoletus qui adolescere (olescere?) id est crescere desiit, id. p. 80, 12 Müll.: exoleta virgo, Plaut. Fragm. in Prisc. p. 872 P.
- B. In partic., to denote an abandoned youth of ripe age: scortum exoletum, Plaut. Poen. prol. 17; cf.: Clodius, qui semper secum scorta, semper exoletos, semper lupas duceret, etc., Cic. Mil. 21, 55; so Mart. 3, 82, 8; Suet. Caes. 49; 76; id. Tib. 43; id. Calig. 24; id. Galb. 22; id. Tit. 7: remiges, Tac. A. 15, 37.
- II. To grow to an end, to stop growing (mostly ante-Aug.; perh. not in Cic.).
- A. Prop.: multa sunt quae neglegentiā exolescunt et fiunt sterilia, Col. 2, 18, 3; App. M. 9, p. 232, 17.
- B. Transf., in gen., to grow out of use, out of date, to become obsolete, to pass away, cease: exolescentes litterae, disappearing, i. e. rubbed off, Suet. Aug. 7: ne vetustissima Italiae disciplina per desidiam exolesceret, Tac. A. 11, 15: rumor validus adeo ut nondum exolescat, id. ib. 4, 10: antiquitus instituta, id. H. 4, 8: gratia pascui usu continuo, Col. 7, 3, 20: cum patris favor haud dum exolevisset, Liv. 2, 52, 4; cf.: nondum is dolor exoleverat, Tac. A. 6, 25: prima positio vetustate, Quint. 1, 6, 11: exolevit fundendi aeris ratio, Plin. 34, 2, 3, § 5: Calchedonii in totum, id. 37, 5, 18, § 72.
In the part. perf.: scorta, Plaut. Curc. 4, 1, 12: exoletum jam vetustate odium, Liv. 2, 35, 8; cf. id. 27, 8, 9: mos civitatis (with vetus), Suet. Galb. 4: et reconditae voces, id. Aug. 86: auctores, Quint. 8, 2, 12: histrio, Vell. 2, 28, 3.
Absol.: exoleta revocavit, aut etiam nova instituit, Suet. Claud. 22.