I.to begin to eat, to bite, to nibble at, to gnaw, etc.—As verb finite very rare, and mostly poet.; not found in prose of Cic.
I. Prop.: “angues duo ex occulto allapsi adedere jecur,” Liv. 25, 16, 2; so, “adeso jecinore,” Val. Max. 1, 6, 8: “favos,” Verg. G. 4, 242.—Hence metaph. of fire: “cum me supremus adederit ignis,” Ov. Am. 1, 15, 41: “flamma plurima postibus haesit adesis,” Verg. A. 9, 537.—
II. In an enlarged sense (as a consequence of a continued biting, gnawing, etc.; and hence only in the perf. or part. pass.; cf.: accīdo, absumo, abrumpo), to eat up, to consume entirely: frumento adeso, quod ex areis in oppidum portatum est, Sisenn. ap. Non. 70, 32; so, “extis adesis,” Liv. 1, 7, 13; “pisces ex parte adesi,” Quint. 6, 3, 90: and metaph., to use up, to consume, waste (as money, strength, etc.): “non adesa jam, sed abundante etiam pecunia,” Cic. Quint. 12: “adesis fortunis omnibus,” Tac. A. 13, 21: “bona adesa,” id. H. 1, 4: “adesus cladibus Asdrubal,” Sil. 13, 680.—Hence, ădēsus , a, um, P. a., eaten, gnawed; hence poet., worn away, esp. by water: “adesi lapides,” smooth, polished, Hor. C. 3, 29, 36 (after Theocr. 22, 49; οὓς ποταμὸς περιέξεσε): “scopulus,” Ov. H. 10, 26: sale durus adeso caseus, poet. for sale adesus caseus, Verg. Mor. 98.
