I.second pers. pres. adgredire, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 124; inf. adgrediri, id. Truc. 2, 5, 7: “adgredirier,” id. Merc. 2, 1, 24, and id. Rud. 3, 1, 9; part. perf. adgretus, Enn. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. Müll.), to go to or approach a person or thing (coinciding, both in signif. and constr., with adire; Horace never uses adgredi; Cic. and the histt. very freq.); constr. with ad or acc. (cf. Zumpt, § 387).
I. In gen.: “ad hunc Philenium adgredimur?” Plaut. As. 3, 3, 90: “adgredior hominem,” id. Curc. 2, 3, 59.—With loc. adv.: “non enim repelletur inde, quo adgredi cupiet,” Cic. de Or. 3, 17, 63.—
II. Esp.
A. Aliquem, to go to or approach, for the purpose of conversing or advising with, asking counsel of, entreating or soliciting something of; to apply to, address, solicit, etc.: “quin ego hunc adgredior de illā?” Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 50: “Locustam ego Romae adgrediar atque, ut arbitror, commovebo,” apply to, Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 1: “Damasippum velim adgrediare,” to solicit, id. Att. 12, 33: “legatos adgreditur,” Sall. J. 46, 4: “adgredi aliquem pecuniā,” i. e. to attempt to bribe, to tamper with, id. ib. 28, 1: “reliquos legatos eādem viā (i. e. pecuniā) adgressus,” id. ib. 16, 4: “aliquem dictis,” to accost, Verg. A. 4, 92: “aliquem precibus,” to pray one, Tac. A. 13, 37: “animos largitione,” id. H. 1, 78: “acrius alicujus modestiam,” id. A. 2, 26: “crudelitatem Principis,” spur on, stir up, id. ib. 16, 18.—
B. To go to or against one in a hostile manner, to fall on, attack, assault (prop. of an open, direct attack, while adorior denotes a secret, unexpected approach): “quis audeat bene comitatum adgredi?” Cic. Phil. 12, 10: “milites palantes inermes adgredi,” Sall. J. 66, 3: “adgressus eum interfecit,” Vulg. 3 Reg. 2, 34: “aliquem vi,” Sall. C. 43, 2: “unus adgressurus est Hannibalem,” Liv. 23, 9: “regionem,” Vell. 2, 109: “somno gravatum ferro,” Ov. M. 5, 659; so id. ib. 12, 482; “13, 333: senatum,” Suet. Aug. 19; so id. ib. 10; id. Calig. 12; id. Oth. 6; id. Dom. 17: “inopinantes adgressus,” Just. 2, 8.—
C. To go to or set about an act or employment, to undertake, begin (so esp. often in Cic.); constr. with inf., ad, or acc. —With inf.: adgretus fari, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 6 Müll.: “quā de re disserere adgredior,” Lucr. 6, 941; so id. 6, 981: “quā prius adgrediar quam de re fundere fata,” id. 5, 111: “quidquam gerere,” id. 5, 168; once in Cic. with inf.: de quibus dicere adgrediar, Off. 2, 1. —With ad: “si adgredior ad hanc disputationem,” Cic. N. D. 3, 3: “ad dicendum,” id. Brut. 37: “ad crimen,” id. Clu. 3: “ad petitionem consulatūs,” id. Mur. 7: “ad faciendam injuriam,” id. Off. 1, 7 fin.—With acc.: “cum adgredior ancipitem causam,” Cic. de Or. 2, 44, 186: “magnum quid,” id. Att. 2, 14: “in omnibus negotiis priusquam adgrediare (sc. ea),” id. Off. 1, 21, 73: “adgrediar igitur (sc. causam), si, etc.,” id. Ac. 2, 20, 64: “aliam rem adgreditur,” Sall. J. 92, 4: “adgrediturque inde ad pacis longe maximum opus,” Liv. 1, 42: “opus adgredior opimum casibus,” Tac. H. 1, 2: “multa magnis ducibus non adgredienda,” Liv. 24, 19: “ad rem publicam,” Vell. 2, 33.—Poet.: “magnos honores,” enter upon, Verg. E. 4, 48: “fatale adgressi avellere Palladium,” id. A. 2, 165: “Jugurtham beneficiis vincere adgressus est,” Sall. J. 9, 3; so id. ib. 21, 3; “75, 2: Caesarem pellere adgressi sunt,” Tac. Or 17: isthmum perfodere adgressus, Suet. Ner. 19; id. Calig. 13; id. Claud. 41.