I. Lit.
A. In gen., a siege, investment, blockade of a place (class.): obsidionem potias dicendum esse, quam obsidium, adjuvat nos testimonio suo Ennius in Telamone, Paul. ex Fest. p. 198 Müll.; v. Müll. ad loc.; and cf.: cui tu obsidionem paras, Enn. ib. (Trag. v. 365 Vahl.); and: “obsidionem obducere,” id. ib. (Trag. v. 11 ib.): “partim vi, partim obsidione urbes capere,” Cic. Mur. 9, 20: “aliquem in obsidione habere,” Caes. B. C. 3, 31: “cum spes major Romanis in obsidione quam in oppugnatione esset,” Liv. 5, 2: obsidione eximere, to free or relcase from, id. 38, 15: “obsidione cingere,” to besiege, blockade, Just. 22, 4, 1; Verg. A. 3, 52: “obsidionem tolerare,” to stand, Tac. H. 1, 33: “obsidionem exsequi,” to carry on, id. A. 15, 4: “obsidionem omittere,” to raise, id. ib. 15, 5: obsidionem solvere, to put an end to a siege, by either surrender or relief: “tolerando paucos dies totam soluturos obsidionem,” Liv. 26, 7, 8; cf. Amm. 20, 7, 3: “solutā obsidione,” raised, Liv. 36, 31, 7; Curt. 4, 4, 1: “eam obsidionem sine certamine adveniens Cn. Scipio solvit,” Liv. 24, 41, 11; 25, 22, 15; 38, 5, 6; Just. 4, 4, 5; Tac. A. 4, 24; id. H. 4, 34: liberare obsidionem, to raise the siege: “non ad Romam obsidendam, sed ad Capuae liberandam obsidionem Hannibalem ire,” Liv. 26, 8, 5; cf. obsidium fin.: “longae dira obsidionis egestas,” Juv. 15, 96. —
B. Transf., captivity (post-class.), Just. 2, 12, 6; 15, 1, 3; 39, 1, 1.—
II. Trop., pressing, imminent danger: “obsidione rem publicam liberare,” Cic. Rab. Perd. 10, 29: “feneratores ex obsidione eximere,” to free from the danger of losing their money, id. Fam. 5, 6, 3; Plin. Pan. 81, 2; cf. obsidium.