mētor, ātus, 1, v. dep. [meta], to measure, mete; to measure off, mark out (not in Cic.).
- I. In gen.: stadium Hercules pedibus suis metatus est, Gell. 1, 1, 2: caelum, Ov. F. 1, 309: Indiam, Plin. 6, 17, 21, § 57.
Poet., to traverse, pass through: nunc nemoris alti densa metatur loca, Sen. Hippol. 505: agros, Sil. 6, 58.
- II. In partic.
- 1. Act., to measure out, mark, or lay out: castra metati signa statuunt, Cael. ap. Non. 137, 18: castra, * Caes. B. C. 3, 13, 3: cum ortu solis castra metabatur, measured out the ground for a camp, encamped, pitched his camp, Sall. J. 106, 5: agrum, Liv. 21, 25: agros, Verg. G. 2, 274: eam (i. e. Alexandriam), Plin. 5, 10, 11, § 62: regiones (for a temple), Liv. 1, 10, 6: castra, Vulg. 3 Reg. 20, 27.
- 2. Neutr., to encamp, pitch one’s tent: metarique sub ipso templo … jussit, Liv. 44, 7, 2: post tabernaculum, Vulg. Num. 3, 23.
Hence, transf., to erect, pitch, set up: tabernacula ciliciis, Plin. 6, 28, 32, § 143.
Act. collat. form, mēto, āre, to measure, measure out, etc.: loca, Verg. Cul. 172.
Pass.: locus metatur, Sen. Thyest. 462.
Often in part. perf.: castris eo loco metatis, Hirt. B. G. 8, 15; so, castra, Liv. 44, 37, 1: porticus, Hor. C. 2, 15, 15: agellus, id. S. 2, 2, 114: prope Beroeam vallo metato, Amm. 31, 9, 1.