I.to seat one's self, sit down; to settle, alight (poet. and in post-Aug. prose; usu. of things)
I. In gen.: “quaesitisque diu terris, ubi sidere detur,” Ov. M. 1, 307; cf.: “(columbae) super arbore sidunt,” Verg. A. 6, 203: “canes sidentes,” sitting down, Plin. 10, 63, 83, § 177.—
b. Of things, to sink down, settle: “sidebant campi (shortly after: subsidere saxa),” Lucr. 5, 493: “nec membris incussam sidere cretam,” id. 3, 382; cf. Col. 12, 24, 2: “in tepidā aquā gutta (balsami) sidens ad ima vasa,” Plin. 12, 25, 54, § 123: “cummi in aquā sidit,” id. 12, 25, 54, § 121: “cave lecticā sidat,” be set down, Prop. 4 (5), 8, 78. “prius caelum sidet inferius mari, Quam, etc.,” Hor. Epod. 5, 79.—
II. In partic., pregn.
A. To sit or be set fast; to remain sitting, lying, or fixed: “mare certis canalibus ita profundum, ut nullae ancorae sidant,” can hold, Plin. 6, 22, 24, § 82: “secures sidunt,” id. 16, 10, 19, § 47: “tum queror, in toto non sidere pallia lecto,” remain lying, Prop. 4 (5), 3, 31.—
2. Naut. t. t., of a vessel, to stick fast on shallows: “veniat mea litore navis Servata, an mediis sidat onusta vadis,” Prop. 3, 14 (3, 6), 30; cf.: “ubi eae (cymbae) siderent,” Liv. 26, 45; Quint. 12, 10, 37; Tac. A. 1, 70; 2, 6; Nep. Chabr. 4, 2.—
B. To sink down, to sink out of sight.
1. Lit.: “non flebo in cineres arcem sidisse paternos Cadmi,” Prop. 3, 9 (4, 8), 37: sidentes in tabem spectat acervos, settling or melting down, Luc. 7, 791; cf. Stat. S. 5, 3, 199.—
2. Trop.: “vitia civitatis pessum suā mole sidentis,” sinking, Sen. Const. 2; cf.: “sidentia imperii fundamenta,” Plin. 15, 18, 20, § 78: “sidente paulatim metu,” Tac. H. 2, 15.
