sorbĕo, ŭi, 2 (collat. forms: pres. subj. sorbamus, App. M. 2, p. 119; perf. sorpsi, acc. to Charis. p. 217, and Diom. p. 363; cf. the compounds), v. a. [akin with Gr. ῤοφέω; cf. O. H. Germ. swarb, swirbil, whirlpool], to sup up, suck in, drink down, swallow (freq. and class.).
- I. Lit. (class.; syn. haurio): hominum sanguinem, Plaut. Bacch. 3, 1, 5: calidum sanguinem ex homine, Plin. 28, 1, 2, § 4: crudum ovum, id. 29, 3, 11, § 42; Luc. 7, 843: margaritas aceto liquefactas, Suet. Calig. 37 et saep.
Absol.: sorbet dormiens, Plaut. Mil. 3, 2, 6 sq.
Prov.: simul flare sorbereque haud facile, to drink and whistle at the same time, i. e. to do two things at once, Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 104.
- B. Transf., to suck in, draw in, swallow up, absorb (poet. and in post-Aug. prose), Lucr. 6, 1130: (Charybdis vastos) Sorbet in abruptum fluctus, Verg. A. 3, 422: fretum, Ov. M. 7, 64: flumina, id. ib. 1, 40: sorbent avidae praecordia flammae, id. ib. 9, 172: (quae sorbuit terrae hiatus), Plin. 2, 80, 82, § 194: minus sorbet politura charta, id. 13, 12, 25, § 81: quā sorbeat aëra sannā Tullia, Juv. 6, 306.
- II. Trop., to swallow down, endure, bear, brook, etc.: quid eum non sorbere animo, quid non haurire cogitatione, cuius sanguinem non bibere censetis? Cic. Phil. 11, 5, 10: odia (corresp. to concoquere), id. Q. Fr. 3, 9, 5.