I.to grasp, seize, catch, lay hold of (not freq. till after the Aug. period).
I. In gen.: “prensare manu bracchia,” Hor. S. 1, 9, 64: “fastigia dextris,” Verg. A. 2, 444: “tenaci forcipe ferrum,” id. ib. 12, 404: “lubrica prensantes effugit umbra manus,” Ov. F. 5, 476: “prehensare hostium tela,” Tac. H. 3, 28.—
II. In partic., to take hold of, detain a person, in order to talk with him, thank him, entreat him, etc.: “arma, genua, vestigia prensando, flexere militum animos,” Tac. H. 1, 66: “commanipularium pectora,” id. ib. 4, 46: “itaque prenso amicos, supplico, ambio domos,” Plin. Ep. 2, 9: “prensatas exeuntium manus,” Liv. 4, 60.—
B. Transf., to sue or solicit for an office: “circumire et prensare patres,” Liv. 1, 47, 7.—So absol.: “prensat unus P. Galba,” solicits for the consulship, Cic. Att. 1, 1, 1: “nos initium prensandi facere cogitaramus,” id. ib.