Lewis & Short

mansŭesco, sŭēvi, sŭētum, 3, v. inch. a. and n. [manus-suesco; lit., to accustom to the hand; hence],

  1. I. Act., to tame, to make tame (in the verb. finit. ante- and post-class.; but cf. infra, mansuetus).
    1. A. Lit.: silvestria animalia, Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 4: tigres, Coripp. Johann. 6, 253: fructus feros, Lucr. 5, 1368; v. Lachm. ad h. l.
    2. * B. Trop., to render mild, gentle, or peaceable: gentes, Coripp. Johann. 6, 484.
  2. II. Neutr. ( = mansuetum fieri), to become or grow tame (in the verb. finit. only poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
    1. A. Lit.: buculi triduo fere mansuescunt, Col. 6, 2, 4: ferae, Luc. 4, 237.
    2. B. Trop., to grow tame, gentle, mild, soft: nesciaque humanis precibus mansuescere corda, Verg. G. 4, 470: umor, Lucr. 2, 475: tellus, Verg. G. 2, 239: radii, Petr. 122: fera mansuescere jussa, Juv. 11, 104.
      Hence, mansŭētus (MASVETA, Inscr. Grut. 688, 2), a, um, P. a., tamed, tame.
    1. A. Lit.: juvenci diebus paucis erunt mansueti, Varr. R. R. 1, 20, 2: sus, Liv. 35, 49: cum (apes) sint neque mansueti generis, neque feri, Plin. 11, 5, 4, § 12: stabula, i. e. mansuetarum pecudum, Grat. Cyn. 164.
    2. B. Trop., mild, soft, gentle, quiet, etc. (syn. mitis; opp. ferus): illud quaero, cur tam subito mansuetus in senatu fuerit, cum in edictis tam fuisset ferus, Cic. Phil. 3, 9, 23: amor, Prop. 1, 9, 12: manus, id. 3, 14, 10: malum, Liv. 3, 16: litora, tranquil, not stormy, Prop. 1, 17, 28.
      Comp.: ut mitior mansuetiorque fiat, Asellio ap. Prisc. p. 668 P.: nam me jam ab orationibus dijungo fere, referoque ad mansuetiores Musas, Cic. Fam. 1, 9, 23: ira, Ov. Tr. 3, 6, 23.
      Sup.: ut mansuetissimus viderer, Cic. de Or. 2, 49, 201: ingenium, Val. Max. 2, 7, 11.
      Hence, adv.: mansŭētē (acc. to B.), gently, mildly, calmly, quietly, etc.: clementer, mansuete factum, Cic. Marcell. 3, 9: adeo tum imperio meliori animus mansuete obediens erat, Liv. 3, 29, 3: ferre fortunam, Auct. Her. 4, 52, 65.
      Comp.: mansuetius versari, App. M. 9, p. 236, 10.