Lewis & Short

arcĕo, cui, ctum (arcitum, acc. to Prisc. p. 1265 P.) [cf. ἀρκέω = to keep off, to suffice; ἄρκιος = sufficient, safe; arx = a stronghold; arca = a strong-box, chest; ἀλαλκεῖν = to keep off; ἀλκή = defence, strength. Curt.].

  1. I. To shut up, to enclose.
    1. A. Lit.: arcere est continere, Paul. ex Fest. p. 15 Müll.: alvus arcet et continet quod recipit, Cic. N. D. 2, 54, 136: orbis caelestis arcens et continens ceteros, id. Rep. 6, 17: nos flumina arcemus, dirigimus, avertimus, id. N. D. 2, 60, 152: hos quidem ut famulos vinclis prope ac custodiā arceamus, shut in, confine, id. Tusc. 2, 21, 48 (cf. Doed. Syn. II. p. 426).
    2. B. Trop.: videbam audaciam tam immanem non posse arceri otii finibus, Cic. Har. Resp. 3.
      Also, to keep in order: arcendae familiae gratiā, Paul. ex Fest. s. v. noverca, p. 175 Müll.
  2. II. To keep or hold off, to prevent from approaching, to keep at a distance: arcere prohibere est, Paul. ex Fest. p. 15 Müll.; constr. absol. aliquem, with ab, the simple abl., poet. also with dat.
          1. (α) Absol. aliquem: ille tenet et scit ut hostium copiae, tu ut aquae pluviae arceantur, Cic. Mur. 9, 22; so, aquam pluviam, aquas pluvias arcere, Cic. Top. 10, 43, and Dig. 39, 3: platanus solem arcet, Plin. 12, 1, 5, § 11: somnos ducere et arcere, Ov. M. 2, 735: Odi profanum vulgus et arceo, Hor. C. 3, 1, 1.
            With an abstr. object: transitum hostis, to arrest, hinder, Liv. 26, 41.
            Poet. and in postAug. prose, with inf. as object, to hinder, prevent: quae (dicta) clamor ad aures Arcuit ire meas, Ov. M. 12, 427: plagamque sedere Cedendo arcebat, id. ib. 3, 89; so id. P. 3, 3, 56; Stat. S. 2, 1, 34; id. Th. 1, 455; Sen. Hippol. 805; Sil. 13, 341 al.; Tac. A. 3, 72.
            And without object: arcuit Omnipotens, Ov. M. 2, 505.
          2. (β) With ab: tu, Juppiter, hunc a tuis aris ceterisque templis arcebis, Cic. Cat. 1, 13 fin.: homines ab injuriā, etc., id. Leg. 1, 14: haec aetas a libidinibus arcenda est, id. Off. 1, 34, 122: homines ab improbitate, id. Par. 3, 2, 23: famulas a limine templi, Ov. F. 6, 482: aliquem ab amplexu, id. M. 9, 751: ignavum, fucos, pecus a praesepibus arcent, Verg. G. 4, 168.
          3. (γ) With the simple abl. (not with persons): primordia genitali concilio arceri tempore iniquo, Lucr. 1, 183: illum ut hostem arcuit Galliā, Cic. Phil. 5, 13 fin.: te dominus illis sedibus arcebit, id. ib. 2, 40 fin.; so id. Tusc. 1, 37, 89: Virginiam matronae sacris arcuerant, Liv. 10, 23: aliquem aditu, id. 42, 6; so Suet. Ner. 46; Luc. 10, 499: aquā atque igni arcebatur, Tac. A. 3, 23; so id. ib. 3, 50 (cf. aqua, I. B. 3.) al.: arceor aris, Ov. M. 6, 209: patriis penatibus, id. ib. 9, 446 al.: aliquem funesto veterno, i. e. to protect, guard, Hor. Ep. 1, 8, 10: classes aquilonibus, id. A. P. 64 et saep.
          4. (δ) With dat., to keep off something from: oestrum pecori, Verg. G. 3, 155 (cf.: Solstitium pecori defendite, id. E. 7, 47: mortem fratri depulit, Ov. H. 14, 130; and the Gr. ἀμύνειν νηυσὶ θοῇσι πῦρ, Hom. Il. 9, 435; 9, 347; v. also Rudd. II. p. 150).