Lewis & Short

rē-scrībo, psi, ptum, 3, v. a.

  1. I. To write back or in return, to reply in writing (freq. and class.).
    1. A. In gen.: antemeridianis tuis litteris heri statim rescripsi: nunc respondeo vespertinis, Cic. Att. 13, 23, 1; so, cui rei, id. ib. 5, 12, 3; 13, 21, 1; cf.: litterae mihi redditae sunt a Pompeio . . . ei statim rescripsi, non me quaerere, etc., id. ib. 8, 1, 2: ad eam (epistulam) rescribam igitur, id. ib. 4, 16, 1: ad litteras, id. ib. 14, 21, 1: ad ea, quae requisieras, id. ib. 12, 21; cf.: tibi ad ea quae quaeris, id. Fam. 1, 9, 2: ad Trebatium, id. Att. 7, 17, 4: Pompeius rescripserat, sese, etc., Caes. B. C. 1, 19: tibi meam (epistulam), quam ad eum rescripseram, misi, Cic. Att. 13, 6, 3: debes hoc etiam rescribere, Hor. Ep. 1, 3, 30: rescribere veteribus orationibus, to write against, reply to, ἀντιγράφειν, Quint. 10, 5, 20; so, orationibus, Suet. Caes. 73: oratorum actionibus, id. Calig. 53: cujus libris de Orthographiā, id. Gram. 19; cf.: rescripta Bruto de Catone, id. Aug. 85: nil mihi rescribas, Ov. H. 1, 2: non rescribendi gloria visa levis, id. ib. 17, 2: orationem, Tac. A. 4, 34 (in Cic. Tusc. 4, 2, 3, descriptos is the true read.).
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. Polit. and jurid. t. t., of emperors or lawyers, to answer in writing a petition or legal question; to give a rescript or a judicial decision: Tiberio pro cliente Graeco petenti rescripsit (Augustus), non aliter se daturum quam si, etc., Suet. Aug. 40; 45; 51; id. Tib. 30; 32; id. Claud. 5; id. Ner. 40; Dig. 1, 16, 4 fin.; ib. 18, 1, 71 al.
        Hence, rēscriptum, i, n., subst., an imperial rescript, Tac. A. 6, 15 (9): quaesitum est, an adversus rescriptum principis provocari possit, Dig. 49, 1, 1: quod et Herennio Modestino studioso meo de Dalmatiā consulenti rescripsi, ib. 47, 2, 53, § 20; 40, 4, 46; 40, 7, 29 al.
      2. 2. In account-books, to make an entry per contra; to place to one’s credit; hence, i. q. to pay back, repay: illud mihi Argentum rursum jube rescribi, Ter. Phorm. 5, 7, 29; Plaut. As. 2, 4, 34: qui de residuis CCCC. HS. CC. praesentia solverimus, reliqua rescribamus, will place to his credit, will pay hereafter, Cic. Att. 16, 2, 1: dictantis, quod tu numquam rescribere possis, Hor. S. 2, 3, 76: Darios, Aus. Ep. 5, 23.
  2. II. To write over again, write anew (not anteAug.): Pollio Asinius parum diligenter compositos putat (Caesaris commentarios), existimatque rescripturum et correcturum fuisse, i. e. to revise (syn. retractare), Suet. Caes. 56: actiones, Plin. Ep. 5, 8, 7; cf. id. ib. 7, 9, 5; 8, 21, 6.
      1. 2. In partic., in milit. lang., to enroll anew, to re-enlist: rescriptae ex eodem milite novae legiones, Liv. 9, 10.
      2. 3. In milit. lang., to transfer from one kind of troops to another: Caesarem decimam legionem ad equum rescribere, Caes. B. G. 1, 42 fin.