Lewis & Short

irrĭgo (inr-), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [1. inrigo], to lead or conduct water or other liquids to a place.

  1. I. Lit.: amurcam ad arbores, Cato, R. R. 36: aquam in areas, id. ib. 151: imbres (plantis), Verg. G. 4, 115.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. To water, irrigate: Aegyptum Nilus irrigat, Cic. N. D. 2, 52, 130; cf. fig.: Democritus, cujus fontibus Epicurus hortulos suos inrigavit, id. ib. 1, 43, 120: jugera L. prati, id. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 2, § 3: hortos, Just. 11, 10, 9.
    2. B. To overflow, inundate: Circus Tiberi superfuso irrigatus, Liv. 7, 3: Pactolus irrigat culta auro, Verg. A. 10, 142.
    3. C. To wet, moisten, bedew: terram sanguine, Plin. 2, 63, 63, § 159: irrigat terram cruor, Sen. Thyest. 44: fletu genas, id. Phoen. 441.
    4. D. To supply with fluid: venas quae sub cute sunt. Cels. 7, 7, 15; cf. Flor. 1, 23, 2.
  3. III. Trop.
    1. A. To cheer, refresh, nourish, strengthen, flood, diffuse: vino aetatem, Plaut. Poen. 3, 3, 86: per aures pectus, Lucil. ap. Non. 497, 31: sol irrigat assidue caelum candore recenti, Lucr. 5, 282: per membra quietem, to diffuse, id. 4, 908; cf.: alicui placidam per membra quietem, Verg. A. 1, 692: fessos sopor irrigat artus, id. ib. 3, 511: ut studiosi juvenes lectione severa irrigarentur, Petr. 4.
    2. B. To flood, overwhelm (com.): irrigatus plagis, i.e. beaten soundly, Plaut. Epid. 1, 2, 18.