Lewis & Short

amb-ĭo, īvi, and ii, ītum, 4, v.n. and a. (although from the root eo, it is regularly conjugated throughout; hence part. perf. ambītus; but ambitio and 2. ambĭtus follow the quantity of the simple verb, eo, ĭtum; in the imperf. ambiebat; also ambibat, Ov. M. 5, 361; cf. Prisc. p. 910 P.; Zumpt, Gram. § 215).

  1. I. Lit.: aliquid, to go round or about a thing (syn. circumeo): ut terram lunae cursus proxime ambiret, Cic. Tim. 9: ambibat Siculae cautus fundamina terrae, Ov. M. 5, 361: jubet urbem ambiri, Luc. 1, 592.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. To surround, encircle, encompass (syn.: circumdo, cingo): insula, quam amnis Euphrates ambiebat, Vell. 2, 101: ambitae litora terrae, Ov. M. 1, 37: Thracam nec purior ambiat Hebrus, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 13; Verg. A. 6, 550 (cf. Sen. Ben. 4, 5: flumina campos cingentia; v. ambitus, I.): funiculus ambiebat gyrum ejus, Vulg. 2 Par. 4, 2: muros praealtum mare ambiebat, Curt. 4, 2; so Tac. A. 1, 68; 15, 43; Suet. Aug. 95: (clipei) oras ambiit auro, Verg. A. 10, 243: ambiente (gemmam) circulo coloris aurei, Plin. 37, 10, 60, § 166: Judam suo ambiebat exercitu, Vulg. 2 Par. 13, 13.
    2. B. T. t. to designate the manner in which candidates for office sought to procure votes (v. ambitio), to go round after, to solicit, canvass for votes (syn. peto): virtute ambire oportet, non fautoribus, Plaut. Am. prol. 18: quod si comitia placet in senatu habere, petamus, ambiamus, Cic. Phil. 11, 8: ambiuntur, rogantur, id. Rep. 1, 31; id. Planc. 4: singulos ex senatu ambiundo nitebantur, ne etc., Sall. J. 13, 8.
      With acc. of the office: magistratum sibi, Plaut. Am. prol. 74.
    3. C. In gen., to solicit one for something, for his favor, friendship, etc., to strive for, seek to gain (syn.: peto, sector): qui ambīssent palmam histrionibus, Plaut. Am. prol. 69: nisi senis amicos oras, ambis, * Ter. And. 2, 2, 36: reginam ambire affatu, Verg. A. 4, 284: conubiis ambire Latinum, id. ib. 7, 333: te pauper ambit sollicitā prece Ruris colonus, Hor. C. 1, 35, 5: ambiebat Jason summum sacerdotium, Vulg. 2 Macc. 4, 7.
      With ut or ne: ambienti, ut legibus solveretur, Suet. Caes. 18: ambirent multi, ne filias in sortem darent, id. Aug. 31.
      With inf.: donec ultro ambiretur consulatum accipere, Tac. A. 2, 43: pauci, qui ob nobilitatem plurimis nuptiis ambiuntur, Tac. G. 18.