Lewis & Short

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1. căpĭo, cēpi, captum (old fut. perf. capso, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 61: capsit, Enn. ap. Non. p. 66, 27, or Ann. v. 324 Vahl.; Plaut. Ps. 4, 3, 6; Att. ap. Non. p. 483, 12, or Trag. Rel. v. 454 Rib.; Paul. ex. Fest. p. 57 Müll.: capsimus, Plaut. Rud. 2, 1, 15: capsis, acc. to Cic. Or. 45, 154, = cape si vis, but this is an error; cf. Quint. 1, 5, 66; old perf. cepet, Col. Rostr. 5; v. Wordsworth, Fragm. and Spec. p. 170), 3, v. a. [cf. κώπη, handle; Lat. capulum; Engl. haft; Germ. Heft; Sanscr. root hri-, take; cf. Gr. χείρ, Engl. and Germ. hand, and Goth. hinthan, seize].

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen., to take in hand, take hold of, lay hold of, take, seize, grasp (cf.: sumo, prehendo): si hodie hercule fustem cepero aut stimulum in manum, Plaut. Aul. 1, 1, 9: cape hoc flabellum, Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 47: cepit manibus tympanum, Cat. 6, 3, 8: tu, genitor, cape sacra manu patriosque Penatis, Verg. A. 2, 717: cape saxa manu, cape robora, pastor, id. G. 3, 420: flammeum, Cat. 61, 8: acria pocula, Hor. S. 2, 6, 69: lora, Prop. 3 (4), 9, 57: baculum, Ov. M. 2, 789: colum cum calathis, id. ib. 12, 475: florem ternis digitis, Plin. 24, 10, 48, § 81: pignera, Liv. 3, 38, 12; Dig. 48, 13, 9, § 6; Gai Inst. 4, 29: ut is in caveā pignus capiatur togae, Plaut. Am. prol. 68: rem manu, Gai Inst. 1, 121: rem pignori, Dig. 42, 1, 15, § 7; cf. ib. 42, 1, 15, § 4: scutum laevā, Plin. 33, 1, 4, § 13: capias tu illius vestem, Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 79: cape vorsoriam, seize the sheet, i. e. take a tack, turn about, Plaut. Trin. 4, 3, 19.
      Very freq. of arms (cf. sumo); so in gen.: arma, to take up arms, i. e. engage in war or battle, Cic. Rab. Perd. 7, 20 sq.; 9, 27; 11, 31; id. Planc. 36, 88; id. Phil. 4, 3, 7; Caes. B.G. 5, 26; 7, 4; Sall. C. 27, 4; 30, 1; 33, 2; 52, 27; id. J. 38, 5; 102, 12; Ov. M. 3, 115 sq.; 12, 91; 13, 221; and of particular weapons: ensem, Ov. M. 13, 435: tela, id. ib. 3, 307; 5, 366 et saep.
      Of food, to take, partake of: quīcum una cibum Capere soleo, Plaut. Trin. 4, 2, 61; Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 77; Sall. J. 91, 2: lauti cibum capiunt, Tac. G. 22.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. Of living objects.
        1. a. To take into possession, take captive, seize, make prisoner.
          1. (α) Of persons: oppidum expugnavimus, et legiones Teleboarum vi pugnando cepimus, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 258: summus ibi capitur meddix, occiditur alter, Enn. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 123 Müll. (Ann. v. 296 Vahl.): quoniam belli nefarios duces captos jam et comprehensos tenetis, Cic. Cat. 3, 7, 16: ibi Orgetorigis filia atque unus e filiis captus est, Caes. B. G. 1, 26: reges capiuntur, Lucr. 4, 1013; Tac. A. 4, 33: capta eo proelio tria milia peditum dicuntur, Liv. 22, 49, 18: quos Byzantii ceperat, Nep. Paus. 2, 3; id. Alcib. 9, 2; id. Dat. 2, 5; Quint. 6, 3, 61: captos ostendere civibus hostes, Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 33: captus Tarento Livius, Cic. Brut. 18, 72: servus ex hoste captus, Quint. 5, 10, 67.
            Hence, P. a. as subst.: captus, i, m., = captivus, a prisoner, captive: in captos clementiā uti, Nep. Alcib. 5, 7: inludere capto, Verg. A. 2, 64: quae sit fiducia capto, id. ib. 2, 75: ex captorum numero, Liv. 28, 39, 10; Tac. A. 6, 1; 12, 37; 15, 1.
            Also, capta, ae, f., a female captive: dicam hanc esse captam ex Cariā, Ditem ac nobilem, Ter. Heaut. 3, 3, 47.
          2. (β) Of animals, birds, fish, etc., to catch, hunt down, take: quid hic venatu non cepit? Varr. ap. Non. p. 253, 31: si ab avibus capiundis auceps dicatur, debuisse ajunt ex piscibus capiundis, ut aucupem, sic piscicupem dici, id. L. L. 8, § 61 Müll.: hic jaculo pisces, illa capiuntur ab hamis, Ov. A. A. 1, 763: neque quicquam captum’st piscium, Plaut. Rud. 2, 1, 12; cf.: nisi quid concharum capsimus, id. ib. v. 18; Cic. Off. 3, 14, 58; Plin. 33, 1, 6, § 27: acipenserem, Cic. ap. Macr. S. 2, 12: cervum, Phaedr. 1, 5, 5; cf.: hic (Nereus) tibi prius vinclis capiendus, Verg. G. 4, 396.
        2. b. To win, captivate, charm, allure, enchain, enslave, fascinate; mostly with abl. of means: Ph. Amore ardeo. Pa. Quid agas? nisi ut te redimas captum quam queas Minumo, Ter. Eun. 1, 1, 29: quod insit in iis aliquid probi, quod capiat ignaros, Cic. Off. 3, 3, 15: animum adulescentis … pellexit eis omnibus rebus, quibus illa aetas capi ac deleniri potest, id. Clu. 5, 13: quamvis voluptate capiatur, id. Off. 1, 30, 105; Quint. 5, 11, 19: quem quidem adeo suā cepit humanitate, Nep. Alcib. 9, 3: secum habuit Pomponium, captus adulescentis et humanitate et doctrinā, id. Att. 4, 1: nec bene promeritis capitur (deus), nec tangitur irā, Lucr. 2, 651: ut pictura poësis; erit quae si propius stes Te capiat magis, et quaedam si longius abstes, Hor. A. P. 362: hunc capit argenti splendor, id. S. 1, 4, 28: te conjux aliena capit, id. ib. 2, 7, 46: Cynthia prima suis miserum me cepit ocellis, Prop. 1, 1, 1: carmine formosae, pretio capiuntur avarae, Tib. 3, 1, 7: munditiis capimur, Ov. A. A. 3, 133; id. M. 4, 170; 6, 465; 7, 802; 8, 124; 8, 435; 9, 511; 10, 529; 14, 373: amore captivae victor captus, Liv. 30, 12, 18: dulcedine vocis, Ov. M. 1, 709; 11, 170: voce novā, id. ib. 1, 678: temperie aquarum, id. ib. 4, 344: (bos) herbā captus viridi, Verg. E. 6, 59: amoenitate loci, Tac. A. 18, 52: auro, Hor. C. 2, 18, 36: neque honoris neque pecuniae dulcedine sum captus, Cic. Fam. 11, 28, 2: splendore hominis, id. Fin. 1, 13, 42: ne oculis quidem captis in hanc fraudem decidisti; nam id concupisti quod numquam videras, id. Verr. 2, 4, 45, § 102.
        3. c. To cheat, seduce, deceive, mislead, betray, delude, catch: sapientis hanc vim esse maximam, cavere ne capiatur, ne fallatur videre, Cic. Ac. 2, 20, 66: injurium autem’st ulcisci advorsarios? Aut quā viā te captent eādem ipsos capi? Ter. Hec. 1, 1, 16: uti ne propter te fidemque tuam captus fraudatusque sim, form. ap. Cic. Off. 3, 17, 70: eodem captus errore quo nos, involved in the same error, Cic. Phil. 12, 2, 6; id. ap. Non. p. 253, 25; cf.: ne quo errore milites caperentur, Liv. 8, 6, 16: capere ante dolis Reginam, Verg. A. 1, 673: captique dolis lacrimisque coactis (Sinonis), id. ib. 2, 196: ubi me eisdem dolis non quit capere, Sall. J. 14, 11: adulescentium animi molles et aetate fluxi dolis haud difficulter capiebantur, id. C. 14, 5: capi alicujus dolo, Nep. Dat. 10, 1: dolum ad capiendos eos conparant, Liv. 23, 35, 2: quas callida Colchis (i.e. Medea) amicitiae mendacis imagine cepit, Ov. M. 7, 301.
        4. d. To defeat, convict, overcome in a suit or dispute (rare): tu si me impudicitiae captas, non potes capere, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 189: tu caves ne tui consultores, ille ne urbes aut castra capiantur (cf. B. 2. b. infra), Cic. Mur. 9, 22: callidus et in capiendo adversario versutus (orator), id. Brut. 48, 178.
        5. e. To deprive one of his powers or faculties, to harm.
          1. (α) Of the physical powers, to lame, mutilate, maim, impair or weaken in the limbs, senses, etc. (only pass. capi, and esp. in part. perf. captus): mancus et membris omnibus captus ac debilis, Cic. Rab. Perd. 7, 21: ipse Hannibal … altero oculo capitur, loses an eye, Liv. 22, 2, 11: captus omnibus membris, id. 2, 36, 8: capti auribus et oculis metu omnes torpere, id. 21, 58, 5: oculis membrisque captus, Plin. 33, 4, 24, § 83: congerantur in unum omnia, ut idem oculis et auribus captus sit, Cic. Tusc. 5, 40, 117: si captus oculis sit, ut Tiresias fuit, id. Div. 2, 3, 9; Verg. G. 1, 183: habuit filium captum altero oculo, Suet. Vit. 6: censorem Appium deum irā post aliquot annos luminibus captum, Liv. 9, 29, 11; Val. Max. 1, 1, 17: lumine, Ov. F. 6, 204: princeps pedibus captus, Liv. 43, 7, 5; cf.: captum leto posuit caput, Verg. A. 11, 830; and of the mole: aut oculis capti fodere cubilia talpae, id. G. 1, 183.
          2. (β) Of the mental powers, to deprive of sense or intellect; only in part. perf. captus, usu. agreeing with pers. subj., and with abl. mente, silly, insane, crazy, crazed, lunatic, mad: labi, decipi tam dedecet quam delirare et mente esse captum, Cic. Off. 1, 27, 94: vino aut somno oppressi aut mente capti, id. Ac. 2, 17, 53; Quint. 8, 3, 4; rarely mentibu’ capti, Lucr. 4, 1022; so, animo, Sen. Herc. Fur. 107; very rarely with gen.: captus animi, Tac. H. 3, 73.
            Absol.: virgines captae furore, Liv. 24, 26, 12.
            Less freq. agreeing with mens or animus: viros velut mente captā cum jactatione fanaticā corporis vaticinari, Liv. 39, 13, 12: captis magis mentibus, quam consceleratis similis visa, id. 8, 18, 11; cf.: capti et stupentes animi, id. 6, 36, 8.
        6. f. To choose, select, elect, take, pick out, adopt, accept a person for a particular purpose or to sustain a particular office or relation: de istac sum judex captus, Plaut. Merc. 4, 3, 33: Aricini atque Ardeates de ambiguo agro … judicem populum Romanum cepere, Liv. 3, 71, 2: me cepere arbitrum, Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 91: te mihi patronam capio, Thais, id. Eun. 5, 2, 48: quom illum generum cepimus, id. Hec. 4, 1, 22; cf.: non, si capiundos mihi sciam esse inimicos omnis homines, make them enemies thereby, id. And. 4, 2, 12: si quis magistrum cepit ad eam rem inprobum, id. ib. 1, 2, 21.
          So the formula of the Pontifex Maximus, in the consecration of a vestal virgin: sacerdotem Vestalem, quae sacra faciat … ita te, Amata, capio, Fab. Pict. ap. Gell. 1, 12, 14; cf.: plerique autem capi virginem solam debere dici putant, sed flamines quoque Diales, item pontifices et augures capi dicebantur, Gell. 1, 12, 15: jam ne eā causā pontifex capiar? … ecquis me augurem capiat? Cat. ib. § 17: Amata inter capiendum a pontifice maximo appellatur, quoniam, quae prima capta est, hoc fuisse nomen traditum est, Gell. ib. § 19: rettulit Caesar capiendam virginem in locum Occiae, Tac. A. 2, 86; 4, 16; 15, 22: religio, quae in annos singulos Jovis sacerdotem sortito capi jubeat, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 51, § 127: C. Flaccus flamen captus a P. Licinio pontifice maximo erat, Liv. 27, 8, 5 Weissenb. ad loc.
      2. 2. Of places.
        1. a. To occupy, choose, select, take possession of, enter into; mostly milit. t. t., to take up a position, select a place for a camp, etc.: loca capere, castra munire, Caes. B. G. 3, 23: castris locum capere, Liv. 9, 17, 15; Suet. Aug. 94 fin.: locum capere castris, Quint. 12, 2, 5: ut non fugiendi hostis, sed capiendi loci causā cessisse videar, Cic. de Or. 2, 72, 294: ad Thebanos transfugere velle, et locum extra urbem editum capere, Nep. Ages. 6, 2: nocte mediā profectus, ut locum quem vellet, priusquam hostes sentirent, caperet, Liv. 34, 14, 1: neminem elegantius loca cepisse, praesidia disposuisse, id. 35, 14, 9: erat autem Philopoemen praecipuae in ducendo agmine locisque capiendis solertiae atque usus, id. 35, 28, 1: locum cepere paulo quam alii editiorem, Sall. J. 58, 3: duces, ut quisque locum ceperat, cedere singulos, Dict. Cret. 2, 46; so, of position on the battle-field: quod mons suberat, eo se recipere coeperunt. Capto monte, etc., Caes. B. G. 1, 25: tenuit non solum ales captam semelsedem, sed, etc., Liv. 7, 26, 5: quem quis in pugnando ceperat locum, eum amissā animā corpore tegebat, Flor. 4, 1; Sall. C. 61, 2; rarely with dat. of pers.: tumulum suis cepit, Liv. 31, 41, 9, for a tomb: LOCVM SIBI MONVMENTO CEPIT. Inscr. Grut. 346, 6; for taking the auspices’ se (Gracchum) cum legeret libros, recordatum esse, vitio sibi tabernaculum captum fuisse, Cic. N. D. 2, 4, 11; cf.: Palatium Romulus, Remus Aventinum ad inaugurandum templa capiunt, Liv. 1, 6, 4; for refuge: omnes Samnitium copiae montes proximos fugā capiunt, id. 9, 43, 20: Anchises natum Conventus trahit in medios … Et tumulum capit, Verg. A. 6, 753; 12, 562: ante locum capies oculis ( = eliges), Verg. G. 2, 230 Serv. ad loc.: nunc terras ordine longo Aut capere aut captas jam despectare videntur (cycni), to select places on which to light, or to be just settling down on places already selected, id. A. 1, 396 Forbig. ad loc.
        2. b. To take by force, capture, storm, reduce, conquer, seize: invadam extemplo in oppidum antiquom: Si id capso, etc., Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 61: oppidum vi, Cat. ap. Charis. 2, p. 191 P.: MACELLAM OPPVGNANDO, Col. Rostr. Inscr. Orell. 549: CORSICAM, Inscr. Orell. 551: oppida, Enn. ap. Prisc. 9, p. 868 P. (Ann. v. 487 Vahl.): ad alia oppida pergit, pauca repugnantibus Numidis capit, Sall. J. 92, 3; Prop. 3, 4 (4, 3), 16: Trojā captā, Liv. 1, 1, 1; Hor. S. 2, 3, 191: Coriolos. Liv. 3, 71, 7: urbem opulentissimam, id. 5, 20, 1: ante oppidum Nolam fortissuma Samnitium castra cepit, Cic. Div. 1, 33, 72: castra hostium, Nep. Dat. 6, 7: concursu oppidanorum facto scalis vacua defensoribus moenia capi possent, Liv. 42, 63, 6: plurimas hostium vestrorum in Hispaniā urbes, id. 28, 39, 10: sedem belli, Vell. 2, 74, 3; cf. Cic. Mur. 9, 22 (B. 1. d. supra).
          Trop.: oppressā captāque re publicā, Cic. Dom. 10, 26: qui, bello averso ab hostibus, patriam suam cepissent, Liv. 3, 50, 15.
        3. c. To reach, attain, arrive at, betake one’s self to (mostly by ships, etc.): insulam capere non potuerant, Caes. B. G. 4, 26 fin.: onerariae duae eosdem quos reliqui portus capere non potuerunt, id. ib. 4, 36: accidit uti, ex iis (navibus) perpaucae locum caperent, id. ib. 5, 23: nostrae naves, cum ignorarent, quem locum reliquae cepissent, id. B. C. 3, 28: praemiis magnis propositis, qui primus insulam cepisset, Auct. B. Alex. 17.
          Trop.: qui … tenere cursum possint et capere otii illum portum et dignitatis, Cic. Sest. 46, 99.
      3. 3. Of things of value, property, money, etc.
        1. a. In gen., to take, seize, wrest, receive, obtain, acquire, get, etc.: AVRVM, ARGENTVM, Col. Rostr. Inscr. Orell. 549: de praedonibus praedam capere, Plaut. Truc. 1, 2, 14: agros de hostibus, Cic. Dom. 49, 128: ut ager ex hostibus captus viritim divideretur, Liv. 4, 48, 2: quinqueremem una cum defensoribus remigibusque, Auct. B. Alex. 16, 7: naves, Nep. Con. 4, 4: classem, id. Cim. 2, 2: magnas praedas, id. Dat. 10, 2: ex hostibus pecuniam, Liv. 5, 20, 5; cf.: e nostris spolia cepit laudibus, Cic. poët. Tusc. 2, 9, 22: signum ex Macedoniā, id. Verr. 2, 4, 58, § 149: signum pulcherrimum Carthagine captum, id. ib. 2, 4, 38, § 82: sed eccam ipsa egreditur, nostri fundi calamitas: nam quod nos capere oportet, haec intercipit, Ter. Eun. 1, 1, 35: cape cedo, id. Phorm. 5, 8, 57: ut reliqui fures, earum rerum quas ceperunt, signa commutant, Cic. Fin. 5, 25, 74: majores nostri non solum id, quod de Campanis (agri) ceperant, non imminuerunt, etc., id. Agr. 2, 29, 81: te duce ut insigni capiam cum laude coronam, Lucr. 6, 95.
          With abstr. objects: paupertatem adeo facile perpessus est, ut de republicā nihil praeter gloriam ceperit, Nep. Epam. 3, 4: ut ceteri, qui per eum aut honores aut divitias ceperant, id. Att. 7, 2: quoniam formam hujus cepi in me et statum, assumed, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 110: quare non committeret, ut is locus ex calamitate populi Romani nomen caperet, Caes. B. G. 1, 13: regnum Tiberinus ab illis Cepit, succeeded to, Ov. M. 14, 615.
        2. b. In particular connections.
          1. (α) With pecuniam (freq. joined with concilio; v. infra), to take illegally, exact, extort, accept a bribe. take blackmail, etc., esp. of magistrates who were accused de pecuniis repetundis: his ego judicibus non probabo C. Verrem contra leges pecuniam cepisse? Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 4, § 10: HS. quadringentiens cepisse te arguo contra leges, id. ib. 2, 2, 10, § 26; cf.: quicquid ab horum quopiam captum est, id. ib. § 27: tamen hae pecuniae per vim atque injuriam tuam captae et conciliatae tibi fraudi et damnationi esse deberent, id. ib. 2, 3, 40, § 91: utrum (potestis), cum judices sitis de pecuniā captā conciliatā, tantam pecuniam captam neglegere? id. ib. 2, 3, 94, § 218: quid est aliud capere conciliare pecunias. si hoc non est vi atque imperio cogere invitos lucrum dare alteri? id. ib. 2, 3, 30, § 71: sequitur de captis pecuniis et de ambitu, id. Leg. 3, 20, 46: ita aperte cepit pecunias ob rem judicandam, ut, etc., id. Fin. 2, 16, 54: quos censores furti et captarum pecuniarum nomine notaverunt, id. Clu. 42, 120: nondum commemoro rapinas, non exactas pecunias, non captas, non imperatas, id. Pis. 16, 38: si quis ob rem judicandam pecuniam cepisset … neque solum hoc genus pecuniae capiendae turpe, sed etiam nefarium esse arbitrabantur, id. Rab. Post. 7, 16; id. N. D. 3, 30, 70; Sall. J. 32, 1: ab regibus Illyriorum, Liv. 42, 45, 8: saevitiae captarumque pecuniarum teneri reum, Tac. A. 3, 67; 4, 31.
          2. (β) Of inheritance and bequest, to take, inherit, obtain, acquire, get, accept: si ex hereditate nihil ceperit, Cic. Off, 3, 24, 93: qui morte testamentove ejus tantundem capiat quantum omnes heredes, id. Leg. 2, 19, 48: abdicatus ne quid de bonis patris capiat, Quint. 3, 6, 96: aut non justum testamentum est, aut capere non potes, id. 5, 14, 16: si capiendi Jus nullum uxori, Juv. 1, 55: qui testamentum faciebat, ei, qui usque ad certum modum capere potuerat, legavit, etc., Dig. 22, 3, 27: quod ille plus capere non poterat, ib. fin.: qui ex bonis testatoris solidum capere non possit, ib. 28, 6, 6; 39, 6, 30.
          3. (γ) Of regular income, revenue, etc., rents, tolls, profits, etc., to collect, receive, obtain: nam ex eis praediis talenta argenti bina Capiebat statim, Ter. Phorm. 5, 3, 7: capit ille ex suis praediis sexcenta sestertia, ego centena ex meis, Cic. Par. 6, 3, 49: stipendium jure belli, Caes. B. G. 1, 28: quinquagena talenta vectigalis ex castro, Nep. Alcib. 9, 4: vectigal ex agro eorum capimus, Liv. 28, 39, 13: quadragena annua ex scholā, Suet. Gram. 23: si recte habitaveris … fundus melior erit … fructūs plus capies, Cato, R. R. 4, 2.
    3. C. Trop.
      1. 1. Of profit, benefit, advantage, to take, seize, obtain, get, enjoy, reap (mostly in phrase fructum capere): metuit semper, quem ipsa nunc capit Fructum, nequando iratus tu alio conferas, Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 59: honeste acta superior aetas fructus capit auctoritatis extremos, Cic. Sen. 18, 62: ex iis etiam fructum capio laboris mei, id. Div. 2, 5: ex quibus (litteris) cepi fructum duplicem, id. Fam. 10, 5, 1: multo majorem fructum ex populi existimatione illo damnato cepimus, quam ex ipsius, si absolutus esset, gratiā cepissemus, id. Att. 1, 4, 2: fructum immortalem vestri in me et amoris et judicii, id. Pis. 14, 31: aliquem fructum dulcedinis almae, Lucr. 2, 971; 5, 1410; Luc. 7, 32.
        In other connections: quid ex eā re tandem ut caperes commodi? Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 25: utilitates ex amicitiā maximas, Cic. Lael. 9, 32: usuram alicujus corporis, Plaut. Am. prol. 108.
      2. 2. Of external characteristics, form, figure, appearance, etc., to take, assume, acquire, put on: gestum atque voltum novom, Ter. Phorm. 5, 6, 50’ faciem aliquam cepere morando, Ov. M. 1, 421; 13, 605: figuras Datque capitque novas, id. ib. 15, 309: formam capit quam lilia, id. ib. 10, 212; cf.: duritiam ab aëre, id. ib. 4, 751.
        Transf., of plants, etc.: radicem capere, to take root, Cato, R. R. 51: cum pali defixi radices cepissent, Plin. 17, 17, 27, § 123: siliculam capere, Varr. R. R. 1, 23, 3: maturitatem capere, Col. 4, 23, 1: radix libere capit viris, Plin. 17, 21, 35, § 161: vires cepisse nocendi, Ov. M. 7, 417: (telinum) rursus refrigeratum odorem suum capit, Plin. 13, 1, 2, § 13.
      3. 3. Of mental characteristics, habits, etc., to take, assume, adopt, cultivate, cherish, possess: cape sis virtutem animo et corde expelle desidiam tuo, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 24: quā re si Glabrionis patris vim et acrimoniam ceperis ad resistendum hominibus audacissimis, si avi prudentiam ad prospiciendas insidias, etc., Cic. Verr. 1, 17, 52: aliquando, patres conscripti, patrium animum virtutemque capiamus, id. Phil. 3, 11, 29: consuetudinem exercitationemque, id. Off. 1, 18, 59: misericordiam, id. Quint. 31, 97: quam (adsuetudinem) tu dum capias, taedia nulla fuge, Ov. A. A. 2, 346: disciplinam principum, Plin. Pan. 46.
        With dat.: quorum animis avidis … neque lex neque tutor capere est qui possit modum, Plaut. Aul. 3, 5, 14 Wagn. ad loc.
      4. 4. Of offices, employments, duties, etc., = suscipio, to undertake, assume, enter upon, accept, take upon one’s self, etc.: nam olim populi prius honorem capiebat suffragio, Quam magistro desinebat esse dicto oboediens, Plaut. Bacch. 3, 3, 34: o Geta, provinciam Cepisti duram, Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 23: in te cepi Capuam, non quo munus illud defugerem, took command at Capua, Cic. Att. 8. 3, 4: consulatum, id. Pis. 2, 3; Sall. J. 63, 2: honores, Nep. Att. 7, 2; Suet. Aug. 26: imperium, id. Claud. 10: magistratum, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 21, 62; Liv. 2, 33, 1; Suet. Aug. 2: magistratus, Sall. H. 1, 41, 21 Dietsch; Nep. Phoc. 1, 1; Suet. Caes. 75: capiatque aliquis moderamina (navis), Ov. M. 3, 644: rerum moderamen, id. ib. 6, 677: pontificatum maximum, Suet. Vit. 11: rem publicam, Sall. C. 5, 6: neve cui patrum capere eum magistratum liceret, Liv. 2, 33, 1: ut ceperat haud tumultuose magistratum majore gaudio plebis, etc., id. 5, 13, 2.
        Rarely with dat. of pers., to obtain for, secure for: patres praeturam Sp. Furio Camillo gratiā campestri ceperunt, Liv. 7, 1, 2.
      5. 5. In gen., of any occupation, work, or undertaking, to begin, enter upon, take, undertake, etc.: augurium ex arce, Liv. 10, 7, 10: augurium capienti duodecim se vultures ostenderunt, Suet. Aug. 95; id. Vesp. 11: omen, Cic. Div. 1, 46, 104: in castris Romanis cum frustra multi conatus ad erumpendum capti essent, Liv. 9, 4, 1: rursus impetu capto enituntur, id. 2, 65, 5; Quint. 6, 1, 28; Suet. Aug. 42; id. Calig. 43: cursum, id. Oth. 6: a quibus temporibus scribendi capiatur exordium, Cic. Leg. 1, 3, 8: experimentum eorum inversā manu capitur, Plin. 13, 2, 3, § 19 (poet.): nec vestra capit discordia finem, Verg. A. 10, 106: fugam, to take to flight, flee, Caes. B. G. 7, 26; so, capere impetum, to take a start, gather momentum: ad impetum capiundum modicum erat spatium, Liv. 10, 5, 6; cf.: expeditionis Germanicae impetum cepit, suddenly resolved to make, Suet. Calig. 43: capere initium, to begin: ea pars artis, ex quā capere initium solent, Quint. 2, 11, 1.
        Transf., of place: eorum (finium) una pars, quam Gallos optinere dictum est, initium capit a flumine Rhodano, Caes. B. G. 1, 1: a dis inmortalibus sunt nobis agendi capienda primordia, Cic. Leg. 2, 3, 7.
      6. 6. Of an opportunity or occasion, to seize, embrace, take: si occassionem capsit, Plaut. Ps. 4, 3, 6: si lubitum fuerit, causam ceperit, Ter. And. 1, 3, 8: quod tempus conveniundi patris me capere suadeat, Ter. Phorm. 5, 4, 9: si satis commode tempus ad te cepit adeundi, Cic. Fam. 11, 16, 1.
      7. 7. Of operations of the mind, resolutions, purposes, plans, thoughts, etc., to form, conceive, entertain, come to, reach: quantum ex ipsā re conjecturam cepimus, Ter. Heaut. 2, 3, 25 MSS. (Fleck. al. ex conj. fecimus); Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 32: cum jam ex diei tempore conjecturam ceperat, Caes. B. G. 7, 35: hujusce rei conjecturam de tuo ipsius studio, Servi, facillime ceperis, Cic. Mur. 4, 9.
        Absol.: conjecturam capere, Cic. Div. 1, 57, 130: nec quid corde nunc consili capere possim, Scio, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 12: capti consili memorem mones, id. Stich 4, 1, 72: quo pacto porro possim Potiri consilium volo capere unā tecum, Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 66; 5, 2, 28: temerarium consilium, Liv. 25, 34, 7: tale capit consilium, Nep. Eum. 9, 3.
        With inf.: confitendum … eādem te horā consilium cepisse hominis propinqui fortunas funditus evertere, Cic. Quint. 16, 53; Caes. B. G. 7, 71 init.
        With ut: subito consilium cepi, ut exirem, Cic. Att. 7, 10 init.
        With gen. gerund. (freq.): legionis opprimendae consilium capere, Caes. B. G. 3, 2: obprimundae reipublicae consilium cepit, Sall. C. 16, 4.
        With sibi: si id non fecisset, sibi consilium facturos, Caes. B. C. 2, 20: ut ego rationem oculis capio, Plaut. Ps. 2, 2, 2: cepi rationem ut, etc., Ter. Heaut. 5, 2, 11.
      8. 8. Of examples, instances, proofs, etc., to take, derive, draw, obtain: ex quo documentum nos capere fortuna voluit quid esset victis extimescendum, Cic. Phil. 11, 2, 5: quid istuc tam mirum’st, de te si exemplum capit? Ter And. 4, 1, 26: exemplum ex aliquā re, Cic. Lael. 10, 33: praesagia a sole, Plin. 18, 35, 78, § 341: illud num dubitas quin specimen naturae capi debeat ex optimā quāque naturā? Cic. Tusc. 1, 14, 32.
      9. 9. Of impressions, feelings, etc., to take, entertain, conceive, receive, be subjected to, suffer, experience, etc.: tantum laborem capere ob talem filium? Ter. And. 5, 2, 29: omnes mihi labores fuere quos cepi leves, id. Heaut. 2, 4, 19: laborem inanem ipsus capit, id. Hec. 3, 2, 9: ex eo nunc misera quem capit Laborem! id. And. 4, 3, 4: miseriam omnem ego capio; hic potitur gaudia, id. Ad. 5, 4, 22: satietatem dum capiet pater Illius quam amat, Plaut. Am. 1, 2, 10: plus aegri ex abitu viri quam ex adventu voluptatis cepi, id. ib. 2, 2, 9: cum illā quācum volt voluptatem capit, id. ib. prol. 114: angor iste, qui pro amico saepe capiendus est, Cic. Lael. 13, 48: quae (benevolentia) quidem capitur beneficiis maxime, id. Off. 2, 9, 32: laetitiam quam capiebam memoriā rationum inventorumque nostrorum, id. Fin. 2, 30, 96: lenire desiderium quod capiebat e filio, id. Sen. 15, 54: opinione omnium majorem animo cepi dolorem, id. Brut. 1, 1: itaque cepi voluptatem, tam ornatum virum fuisse in re publicā, id. ib. 40, 147: ex civibus victis gaudium meritum capiam, Liv. 27, 40, 9: ne quam … invidiam apud patres ex prodigā largitione caperet, id. 5, 20, 2: ad summam laetitiam meam, quam ex tuo reditu capio, magnus illius adventu cumulus accedet, id. Att. 4, 19, 2(4, 18, 3): laetitia, quam oculis cepi justo interitu tyranni, id. ib. 14, 14, 4: ex praealto tecto lapsus matris et adfinium cepit oblivionem, lost his memory, Plin. 7, 24, 24, § 90: virtutis opinionem, Auct. B. G. 8, 8: somnum, Cic. Tusc. 4, 19, 44: taedium vitae, Nep. ap. Gell. 6 (7), 18, 11: maria aspera juro Non ullum pro me tantum (me) cepisse timorem, Quam, etc., Verg. A. 6, 352 Forbig. ad loc.: et in futurum etiam metum ceperunt, Liv. 33, 27, 10: voluptatem animi, Cic. Planc. 1, 1: malis alienis voluptatem capere laetitiae (cum sit), id. Tusc. 4, 31, 66: quaeque mihi solā capitur nunc mente voluptas, Ov. P. 4, 9, 37.
      10. 10. Transf., with the feelings, experience, etc., as subj., to seize, overcome, possess, occupy, affect, take possession of, move, etc. (cf. λαμβάνω, in this sense and like 9. supra): nutrix: Cupido cepit miseram nunc me, proloqui Caelo atque terrae Medeaï miserias, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 3, 26, 63 (Trag. Rel. v. 291 Vahl.): edepol te desiderium Athenarum arbitror cepisse saepe, Ter. Hec. 1, 2, 14: numquam commerui merito ut caperet odium illam mei, id. ib. 4, 2, 4: sicubi eum satietas Hominum aut negoti odium ceperat, id. Eun. 3, 1, 14: nos post reges exactos servitutis oblivio ceperat, Cic. Phil. 3, 4, 9: te cepisse odium regni videbatur, id. ib. 2, 36, 91: Romulum Remumque cupido cepit urbis condendae, Liv. 1, 6, 3: cupido eum ceperat in verticem montis ascendendi, id. 40, 21, 2: etiam victores sanguinis caedisque ceperat satietas, id. 27, 49, 8; Mel. 3, 5, 2: qui pavor hic, qui terror, quae repente oblivio animos cepit? Liv. 27, 13, 2: oblivio deorum capiat pectora vestra, id. 38, 46, 12: tantane te cepere oblivia nostri? Ov. Tr. 1, 8, 11: ut animum ejus cura sacrorum cepit, Liv. 27, 8, 6: hostis primum admiratio cepit, quidnam, etc., id. 44, 12, 1: tanta meae si te ceperunt taedia laudis, Verg. G. 4, 332; cf. Anthol. Lat. I. p. 178; I. p. 196 Burm.: ignarosque loci passim et formidine captos Sternimus, Verg. A. 2, 384: infelix, quae tanta animum dementia cepit! id. ib. 5, 465; id. E. 6, 47: cum subita incautum dementia cepit amantem, id. G. 4, 488; cf. Anthol. Lat. I. p. 170, 15; I. p. 168, 14 Burm.: Tarquinium mala libido Lucretiae stuprandae cepit, Liv. 1, 57, 10: ingens quidem et luctus et pavor civitatem cepit, id. 25, 22, 1: tantus repente maeror pavorque senatum eorum cepit, id. 23, 20, 7: senatum metus cepit, id. 23, 14, 8: si me … misericordia capsit. Att. ap. Non. p. 483, 11 (Trag. Rel. v. 454 Rib.): nec tuendi capere satietas potest, Pac. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 14, 24 (Trag. Rel. v. 410 ib.): quantus timor socios populi Romani cepisset, Liv. 43, 11, 9.
      11. 11. Of injury, damage, loss, etc., to suffer, take, be subjected to: calamitatem, Cic. Div. 1, 16, 29: detrimenti aliquid in aliquā re, Col. 1, 8, 2.
        Esp., in the legal formula, by which dictatorial powers were conferred by the senate upon the consuls or the entire magistracy in times of extreme danger to the state; videant ne quid res publica detrimenti capiat: decrevit quondam senatus, ut L. Opimius consul videret ne quid res publica detrimenti caperet, Cic. Cat. 1, 2, 4: Hernici tantum terrorem incussere patribus, ut, quae forma senatūs consulti ultimae semper necessitatis habita est, Postumio, alteri consulum, negotium daretur, videret, ne, etc., Liv. 3, 4, 9; cf. id. 6, 19, 2 sqq.: quod plerumque in atroci negotio solet, senatus decrevit, darent operam consules, ne quid, etc. … Ea potestas per senatum more Romano magistratui maxuma permittitur, exercitum parare, bellum gerere, coërcere omnibus modis socios atque civis, domi militiaeque inperium atque judicium summum habere, Sall. C. 29, 2 sq.
  2. II. To take in, receive, hold, contain, be large enough for.
    1. A. Lit.
      1. 1. In gen.: Ph. Sitit haec anus. Pa. Quantillum sitit? Ph. Modica’st, capit quadrantal, Plaut. Curc. 1, 2, 8: parte quod ex unā spatium vacat et capit in se (ferrum), Lucr. 6, 1030: jam mare litus habet, plenos capit alveus amnes, Ov. M. 1, 344; cf.: terra feras cepit, volucres agitabilis aër, id. ib. 1, 75: dum tenues capiat suus alveus undas, id. ib. 8, 558: cunctosque (deos) dedisse Terga fugae, donec fessos Aegyptia tellus Ceperit, id. ib. 5, 324.
      2. 2. Esp., with negatives, not to hold, to be too small for, etc.; cf.: di boni, quid turba est! Aedes nostrae vix capient, scio, Ter. Heaut. 2, 3, 13: qui cum unā domo jam capi non possunt, in alias domos exeunt, Cic. Off. 1, 17, 54: nec jam se capit unda; volat vapor ater ad auras, Verg. A. 7, 466: non tuus hoc capiet venter plus ac meus, Hor. S. 1, 1, 46: non capit se mare, Sen. Agam. 487: neque enim capiebant funera portae, Ov. M. 7, 607: officium populi vix capiente domo, id. P. 4, 4, 42: si di habitum corporis tui aviditati animi parem esse voluissent, orbis te non caperet, Curt. 7, 8, 12: ut non immerito proditum sit … Graeciam omnem vix capere exercitum ejus (Xerxis) potuisse, Just. 2, 10, 19.
    2. B. Trop.
      1. 1. To swallow up, ingulf, take in (rare): tot domus locupletissimas istius domus una capiet? Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 4, § 7.
      2. 2. To contain, hold, be large or strong enough for, bear.
        1. a. Affirmatively (rare): quidquid mortalitas capere poterat, implevimus, Curt. 9, 3, 7: si puer omni curā et summo, quantum illa aetas capit, labore, scripserit, Quint. 2, 4, 17: dummodo ejus aetatis sit, ut dolum capiat, Dig. 40, 12, 15.
        2. b. With negatives: non capiunt angustiae pectoris tui (tantam personam), Cic. Pis. 11, 24: leones, qui … nec capere irarum fluctus in pectore possunt, Lucr. 3, 298: nec capiunt inclusas pectora flammas, Ov. M. 6, 466: vix spes ipse suas animo capit, id. ib. 11, 118: ardet et iram Non capit ipsa suam Progne, id. ib. 6, 610; cf.: sic quoque concupiscis quae non capis, Curt. 7, 8, 13: majora quam capit spirat, id. 6, 9, 11: ad ultimum magnitudinem ejus (fortunae) non capit, id. 3, 12, 20: infirma aetas majora non capiet, Quint. 1, 11, 13.
      3. 3. Transf., of things, to admit of, be capable of, undergo (post-Aug. and rare): rimam fissuramque non capit sponte cedrus, Plin. 16, 40, 78, § 212: molluscum … si magnitudinem mensarum caperet, id. 16, 16, 27, § 68: res non capit restitutionem, cum statum mutat, Dig. 4, 4, 19.
      4. 4. With inf., to be susceptible of, to be of a nature to, etc., = ἐνδέχεται (late Lat.): nec capit humanis angoribus excruciari (Deus), Prud. Apoth. 154: crimina, quae non capiunt indulgeri, Tert. Pud. 1 fin.; id. Apol. 17; id. adv. Haer. 44 fin.; Paul. Nol. Carm. 9, 22.
      5. 5. Of the mind, to take, receive into the mind, comprehend, grasp, embrace (cf. intellego, to penetrate mentally, have insight into): sitque nonnumquam summittenda et contrahenda oratio, ne judex eam vel intellegere vel capere non possit, Quint. 11, 1, 45: nullam esse gratiam tantam, quam non vel capere animus meus in accipiendo … posset, id. 2, 6, 2: quae quidem ego nisi tam magna esse fatear, ut ea vix cujusquam mens aut cogitatio capere possit, Cic. Marcell. 2, 6; id. N. D. 1, 19, 49: senatus ille, quem qui ex regibus constare dixit, unus veram speciem Romani senatus cepit, Liv. 9, 17, 14: somnium laetius, quam quod mentes eorum capere possent, id. 9, 9, 14.
        P. a. as subst.: Capta, ae, f., a surname of Minerva, as worshipped on the Cœlian Mount, but for what reason is not known, Ov. F. 3, 837 sq.

2. căpĭo, ōnis, f. [1. capio]; in the Lat. of the jurists,

  1. I. A taking: dominii, Dig. 39, 2, 18; Gell. 6 (7), 10, 3.
  2. II. = usu capio or usucapio, the right of property acquired by prescription, Dig. 41, 1, 48, § 1; 41, 3, 21; 41, 5, 4; v. 1. usucapio.

2. captus, ūs, m. [capio].

  1. I. A taking, seizing; that which is taken or grasped (so post-Aug. and rare): flos (ederae) trium digitorum captu, i. e. as much as one can grasp with three fingers, a pinch, Plin. 24, 10, 47, § 79: piscium vel avium vel missilium, a draught, Dig. 18, 1, 8, § 1: bonorum, Val. Max. 3, 3, ext. 7.
  2. II. (Acc. to capio, II. B. 4.) Power of comprehension, capacity, notion (this is the usu. class. signif. in the phrase ut est captus alicujus, according to one’s capacity or notion): hic Geta, ut captus est servorum, non malus Neque iners, Ter. Ad. 3, 4, 34 (ut se habet condicio servorum, Don.); so Afran. ap. Don. ib.: civitas ampla atque florens, ut est captus Germanorum, according to German notions ([?W+S GE KATA *GERMANOU/S ?], Metaphr.), Caes. B. G. 4, 3: Graeci homines non satis animosi, prudentes, ut est captus hominum, satis, for this people’s capacity, Cic. Tusc. 2, 27, 65.
    With pro or supra (post-class.): pro captu, Gell. 1, 9, 3; App. Mag. p. 277; Cod. Th. 6, 4, 21, § 5: SVPRA CAPTVM, Inscr. Grut. 1120, 7.
    1. B. Of physical power (very rare): iracundissimae ac pro corporis captu pugnacissimae sunt apes, in proportion to or in view of their bodily size, Sen. Clem. 1, 19, 2.