I.v. freq. n. [2. volo], to fly to and fro, to fly or flit about, to flutter (class.).
I. Lit.: “aves volitare,” Cic. de Or. 2, 6, 23: “(volucris) propter humum volitat,” Ov. M. 8, 258: “volitant alii (scarabaei) magno cum murmure,” Plin. 11, 28, 34, § 98. —
B. Transf., to fly, hasten, or hover about; to flutter, float about: “volitans totā acie,” Liv. 4, 19, 2: “mediis in millibus ductores,” Verg. A. 12, 126: “volitabit et vagabitur in foro,” Auct. Her. 4, 39, 51; cf.: “totā Asiā vagatur, volitat ut rex,” Cic. Phil. 11, 2, 6: “volitare in foro,” id. de Or. 1, 38, 173: “volitat ante oculos istorum Jubae regis filius,” id. Agr. 2, 22, 59: “pacatum volitant per mare navitae,” Hor. C. 4, 5, 19: “tribuni praefectique cum terrore et armatorum catervis volitabant,” Tac. H. 2, 88 fin.; cf. Cic. Sest. 1, 1. —Of things concr. and abstr.: “quae (rerum simulacra) quasi membranae summo de corpore rerum Dereptae volitant ultro citroque per auras,” Lucr. 4, 32; cf. id. 4, 62: “solidissima materiaï Corpora perpetuo volitare,” hover, float about, id. 1, 952; “so of atoms,” id. 2, 380; 3, 33; Cic. N. D. 1, 20, 54: “stellae,” id. Arat. 180: “atra favilla in nimbo,” Verg. A. 5, 666: “umbrae inter vivos,” Lucr. 4, 38: “circum litora,” Verg. A. 6, 329: “et tenues animae volitare silentum,” Ov. M. 14, 411: “voces per auras,” Lucr. 4, 221.—
II. Trop., to fly, fly or flutter about, fly to and fro, etc.: nemo me lacrimis decoret nec funera fletu Faxit. Cur? Volito vivu' per ora virūm, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 1, 15, 34; cf. id. Sen. 20, 73 (Epigr. v. 4, p. 162 Vahl.): “speremus nostrum nomen volitare et vagari latissime,” Cic. Rep. 1, 17, 26: “si nostri animi ... gestiant ac volitare cupiant vacui curā ac labore,” to wander about, id. de Or. 2, 6, 23: “valebis apud hominem volitantem gloriae cupiditate, vir moderatus et constans,” soaring, aspiring, id. Pis. 25, 59; cf.: “cupis volitare per auras,” Mart. 1, 4, 11: nec volitabo in hoc insolentius, fly into a passion, Cic. Fl. 16, 38: “(Clodius) volitat, furit,” id. Att. 2, 22, 1.
