I.a. [id.], to commit adultery, to pollute, defile.
I. Lit., absol. or with acc.: “latrocinari, fraudare, adulterare,” Cic. Off. 1, 35: “jus esset latrocinari: jus adulterare: jus testamenta falsa supponere,” id. de Leg. 16, 43: “qui dimissam duxerit, adulterat,” Vulg. Matt. 5, 32: “matronas,” Suet. Aug. 67; cf. id. Caes. 6.—Also of brutes: “adulteretur et columba milvio,” Hor. Epod. 16, 32.—As verb. neutr. of a woman: “cum Graeco adulescente,” Just. 43, 4.—Freq.,
II. Fig., to falsify, adulterate, or give a foreign nature to a thing, to counterfeit: “laser adulteratum cummi aut sacopenio aut fabā fractā,” Plin. 19, 3, 15, § 40: “jus civile pecuniā,” Cic. Caecin. 26: “simulatio tollit judicium veri idque adulterat,” id. Lael. 25, 92; id. Part. 25, 90: “adulterantes verbum,” Vulg. 2 Cor. 2, 17.—Poet. of Proteus: “faciem,” changes his form, Ov. F. 1, 373.
