Lewis & Short

căpesso (căpisso, Pac. ap. Non. p. 227, 1), īvi (Sall. H. 3, 68 Dietsch; Tac. A. 15, 49), or ii (Tac. A. 12, 30: capessi, given by Diom. p. 367 P., and by Charis. ap. Prisc. p. 902 ib., but apparently erroneously; cf. Struve, p. 198, and lacesso), ītum (acc. to Prisc. l. l. part. fut. capessiturus, Tac. A. 6, 48), 3, v. desid. a. [capio].

  1. I. Lit., to seize, take, or catch at eagerly, to snatch at, lay hold of (capesso = desidero capere, Prisc. l. l.; rare but class.): alia animalia cibum partim oris hiatu et dentibus ipsis capessunt, partim unguium tenacitate adripiunt, Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 122: pastus, id. ib.: arma, Verg. A. 3, 234; Ov. M. 11, 378.
    1. B. Of relations of place, to strive to reach a place or limit, to betake one’s self to, to go to, to repair or resort to; constr. usu. with acc.; ante-class. also capere se in or ad aliquem locum.
          1. (α) With acc.: omnes mundi partes undique medium locum capessentes nituntur aequaliter, Cic. N. D. 2, 45, 115: superiora capessere, id. Tusc. 1, 18, 42: Melitam, id. Att. 10, 9, 1: Italiam, Verg. A. 4, 346: turris, id. ib. 11, 466: montem, Val. Fl. 4, 316: aethera, Sil. 4, 480.
          2. (β) Se in or ad aliquem locum: quam magis te in altum capessis, tam aestus te in portum refert, Plaut. As. 1, 3, 6: nunc pergam … me domum capessere, id. Am. 1, 1, 106; Titin. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 4, 346.
          3. (γ) With adverb. dat.: quo nunc capessis te, Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 5; id. Rud. 1, 2, 89; 1, 2, 83.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. To take hold of any thing with zeal, to take upon one’s self, take in hand, to undertake, enter upon, engage in, execute, manage (the most usu. signif.; cf. I. A.): Pac. ap. Non. p. 227, 1: nunc ad senem cursum capessam, Plaut. Capt. 4, 1, 9: viam, Liv. 44, 2, 8: alicujus imperia, Plaut. Trin. 2, 2, 23: jussa, to perform, execute, Verg. A. 1, 77; Plaut. Aul. 4, 1, 4; so, capessere rem publicam, to undertake affairs of state, to engage in public affairs, administer (differing, by the idea of zealous co-operation and activity, from accedere ad rem publicam, which designates merely the entering upon a public office or duty), Cic. Sest. 6, 14; id. de Or. 3, 29, 112; id. Att. 1, 17, 10; 16, 7, 7; Sall. C. 52, 5; id. J. 85, 47; Nep. Them. 2, 1; Liv. 3, 69, 5; Tac. A. 1, 24; 12, 41; 16, 26; id. H. 4, 5; 4, 39; Suet. Tib. 25; Quint. 12, 3, 1: civitatem, Plin. Pan. 39, 5: orbem terrae, Tac. A. 11, 34; 12, 5: magistratus, id. Agr. 6: imperium, id. A. 13, 4; 14, 26: vigintiviratum, id. ib. 3, 29: provincias, id. ib. 6, 27: officia in republică, id. ib. 6, 14 Halm: curas imperii, Plin. Pan. 66, 2: laborem cum honoribus, Sall. H. 1, 48, 9 Dietsch: bellum, Liv. 26, 25, 5: pugnam, to commence, id. 2, 6, 8; 10, 5, 4; Tac. A. 12, 30; id. H. 3, 16; 5, 17: proelium, Just. 2, 12: partem belli, Liv. 31, 28, 4: partem pugnae, id. 26, 5, 15: fugam, to take to flight, id. 1, 25, 7: principium facinoris, Tac. A. 15, 49: inimicitias, id. ib. 5, 11: noctem in castris tutam et vigilem, to pass, id. ib. 4, 48: divorsa, Sall. H. 3, 68 Dietsch: tuta et salutaria, to adopt, Tac. A. 15, 29: parata, id. ib. 6, 37: meliora, id. ib. 6, 48 et saep.: libertatem, Sall. H. 3, 61, 2 Dietsch; Cic. Phil. 10, 9, 19: recta, * Hor. S. 2, 7, 7.
      1. 2. Esp., to lay hold of with the mind, to comprehend, understand: in capessendis naturae sensibus, Gell. 12, 1, 11.
    2. B. To betake one’s self to, enter upon (cf. I. B.): quam (filius) se ad vitam et quos ad mores praecipitem inscitus capessat, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 10, 2.
      1. 2. With the idea of completed action, to attain to, to reach a person or thing: neque (te) posse corde capessere, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 20, 40 (Ann. v 44 Vahl.).