Lewis & Short

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ăd-ŏlesco, ēvi (rare ui, Varr. ap. Prisc. 872 P.; adolēsse sync. for adolevisse, Ov. H. 6, 11), ultum, 3, v. inch. [1. adoleo], to grow up, to grow (of everything capable of increase in magnitude).

  1. I. In gen.
    1. A. Lit., of men, animals, plants; seasons, passions, etc.; but esp. of age: postquam adolevit ad eam aetatem, uti, etc., Plaut. Cas. prol. 47: ubi robustis adolevit viribus aetas, Lucr. 3, 450; cf. 4, 1035; 2, 1123: adultum robur, id. 2, 1131; 5, 798: postquam adoluerit haec juventus, Varr. ap. Prisc. p. 872 P.: qui adoleverit, Cic. N. D. 1, 35: viriditas herbescens, quae sensim adolescit, id. Sen. 15, 51: ter senos proles adoleverat annos, Ov. F. 3, 59: adolescere ramos cernat, id. M. 4, 376: adolēsse segetes, id. H. 6, 11: simul atque adoleverit aetas, Hor. S. 1, 9, 34: cum matura adoleverit aetas, Verg. A. 12, 438.
      Hence, transf. from age to the person, to grow up, come to maturity, mature: adulta virgo, Liv. 26, 50 al.: arundines non sine imbre adolescunt, Plin. 9, 16, 23, § 56: in amplitudinem, id. 12, 1, 3, § 7: in crassitudinem, id. 13, 7, 15, § 58; so 16, 34, 62, § 151; 8, 14, 14, § 36 al.: ac dum prima novis adolescit frondibus aetas, Verg. G. 2, 362: quoad capillus adolesceret, Gell. 17, 9.
    2. B. Fig., to grow, increase, augment, to become greater: cupiditas agendi adolescit una cum aetatibus, Cic. Fin. 5, 20: ratio cum adolevit, id. Leg. 1, 7: ingenium brevi adolevit, Sall. J. 63, 3: postquam res publica adolevit, id. C. 51, 40; id. J. 2: quantum superbiae socordiaeque Vitellio adoleverit, Tac. H. 2, 73: Cremona numero colonorum, adolevit, id. ib. 3, 34: ver adolescit, advances, id. A. 13, 36; 2, 50: caepe revirescit, decedente luna, inarescit adolescente, Gell. 20, 8.
  2. II. Esp., in sacrificial lang., to be kindled, to burn (cf. 1. adoleo): Panchaeis adolescunt ignibus arae, Verg. G. 4, 379.
    Hence, ădŏlescens, entis, v. adules-.—ădultus, a, um, P. a., grown up, adult.
    1. A. Lit.
      1. 1. Of living beings: Ab his ipsis (virginibus), cum jam essent adultae, Cic. Tusc. 5, 20, 58; so, virgo, id. Brut. 96, 330; Liv. 26, 50; Hor. C. 3, 2, 8 al.; cf.: adultae aetate virgines, Suet. Aug. 69: pueri, Quint. 2, 2, 3: liberi, Suet. Tib. 10: filius, id. Claud. 39: catuli, Plin. 9, 8, 7, § 22: locustae, id. 11, 29, 35, § 105: fetus (apum), Verg. G. 4, 162.
        Comp.: (hirundinum) pullorum adultiores, Plin. 10, 33, 49, § 92.
      2. 2. Of things (concrete and abstract): vitium propagine, Hor. Epod. 2, 9: crinis, Stat. S. 2, 122: lanugo, Amm. 16, 12 al.: aetas, Lucr. 2, 1123; Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 68, § 160: aestas, advanced, Tac. A. 2, 23: autumnus, id. ib. 11. 31: nox, id. H. 3, 23.
    2. B. Fig., grown, matured, adult: populus adultus jam paene et pubes, Cic. Rep. 2, 11; so, qui non nascentibus Athenis, sed jam adultis fuerunt, id. Brut. 7, 27; cf.: nascenti adhuc (eloquentiae) nec satis adultae, Tac. Or. 25: res nondum adultae, Liv. 2, 1, 6: pestis rei publicae (of Catiline), Cic. Cat. 1, 12, 30: auctoritas nondum adulta, Tac. A. 1, 46: conjuratio, id. ib. 15, 73; cf.: incipiens adhuc et necdum adulta seditio, id. H. 1, 31 al.

ădultus, a, um, P. a., from adolesco.