I.to press heavily upon, to oppress with weight, to encumber (perh. not before the Aug. period).
I. Lit.: “exonerare praegravante turbā regnum cupiens,” Liv. 5, 34: “praegravata telis scuta,” burdened, heavy, id. 7, 23: “caper praegravantibus auribus,” drooping, Col. 7, 6.—
B. Transf., to exceed in weight, preponderate: “ne praegravet fructus parte aliquā,” Plin. 17, 22, 35, § 184.—
II. Trop., to weigh down, depress: qui praegravat artes, Infra se positas, qs. presses them down by his own superiority, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 13.—
B. To preponderate: “cito apparebit, pars civitatis deterior quanto praegravet,” Sen. Clem. 1, 24, 1; Suet. Caes. 76.