sordĕo, ēre, v. n. [cf. Goth. svarts; Germ. schwarz, black], to be dirty, filthy, foul (rare; not in Cic.; syn. squaleo).
- I. Lit.: Di. Jam lavisti? Ph. Num tibi sordere videor? Plaut. Truc. 2, 4, 28: cui manus materno sordet sparsa sanguine, Att. ap. Non. 170, 6: non splendeat toga: ne sordeat quidem, Sen. Ep. 5, 2: nullā teneri lanugine vultus, Mart. 1, 32, 5: Albanoque cadum sordentem promere fumo, Stat. S. 4, 8, 39: incola sordentium ganearum, Gell. 9, 2, 6.
- II. Trop., to be mean, base, low, or sordid: haud sordere visus est Festus dies, i. e. had nothing mean or sordid in its appearance, Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 6: convivium inopiā, Favor. ap. Gell. 15, 8, 20: ignobilia et sordentia (verba), low, vulgar, Gell. 19, 13, 3 (shortly before, sordidum verbum).
- B. Transf., to seem base or paltry; to be despised, slighted, or held of no account: suis sordere (with contemni), Liv. 4, 25, 11; Quint. 8, prooem. § 26: sordent tibi munera nostra, Verg. E. 2, 44; Stat. S. 1, 3, 98: cunctane prae campo sordent? Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 4: pretium aetas altera sordet, a renewal of youth seems too small a price, id. ib. 1, 18, 18: quippe sordent prima quaeque, cum majora sperantur, Curt. 10, 10, 8: si conferas et componas Graeca ipsa, oppido quam jacere atque sordere incipiunt, quae Latina sunt, to seem paltry, of small account, Gell. 2, 23, 3.