I.v. freq. n. and a. [impero], to command, govern, rule (not freq. till after the Aug. per.; not in Cic. or Cæs.); constr. with acc., dat., or absol.
(α).
With acc.: “quod antehac pro jure imperitabam meo, nunc te oro per precem,” Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 47: “aequam Rem imperito,” Hor. S. 2, 3, 189.—
(β).
With dat. (so most freq.): “magnis gentibus,” Lucr. 3, 1028: “magnis legionibus,” Hor. S. 1, 6, 4: “tu, mihi qui imperitas, aliis servis miser,” id. ib. 2, 7, 81; Tib. 2, 3, 34: “equis,” Hor. C. 1, 15, 25: “suo generi,” Plin. 10, 21, 24, § 47: “quis nemori imperitet, quem tota armenta sequantur,” Verg. A. 12, 719: “naturam ipsam ceteris imperitantem industria vicerat,” Sall. J. 76, 1: “alteri populo cum bona pace,” Liv. 1, 24, 3.—Pass. impers.: “quod superbe avareque crederent imperitatum victis esse,” Liv. 21, 1.—
(γ).
Absol.: “Veleda late imperitabat,” Tac. H. 4, 61: “quia adductius quam civili bello imperitabat,” id. ib. 3, 7: “decem imperitabant,” Liv. 1, 17: “libido imperitandi,” Sall. J. 81, 1: “qua tempestate Carthaginienses pleraque Africa imperitabant,” id. ib. 79, 2 Kritz N. cr.—Pass. impers.: “quod mihi quoque exsequendum reor, quanto sit angustius imperitatum,” Tac. A. 4, 4 fin.