I.v.n. and a. (although from the root eo, it is regularly conjugated throughout; hence part. perf. ambītus; but ambitio and 2. ambĭtus follow the quantity of the simple verb, eo, ĭtum; in the imperf. ambiebat; “also ambibat,” Ov. M. 5, 361; cf. Prisc. p. 910 P.; Zumpt, Gram. § 215).
I. Lit.: aliquid, to go round or about a thing (syn. circumeo): “ut terram lunae cursus proxime ambiret,” Cic. Tim. 9: “ambibat Siculae cautus fundamina terrae,” Ov. M. 5, 361: “jubet urbem ambiri,” Luc. 1, 592.—
II. Transf.
A. To surround, encircle, encompass (syn.: “circumdo, cingo): insula, quam amnis Euphrates ambiebat,” Vell. 2, 101: “ambitae litora terrae,” Ov. M. 1, 37: “Thracam nec purior ambiat Hebrus,” Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 13; Verg. A. 6, 550 (cf. Sen. Ben. 4, 5: flumina campos cingentia; “v. ambitus, I.): funiculus ambiebat gyrum ejus,” Vulg. 2 Par. 4, 2: “muros praealtum mare ambiebat,” Curt. 4, 2; so Tac. A. 1, 68; 15, 43; Suet. Aug. 95: “(clipei) oras ambiit auro,” Verg. A. 10, 243: “ambiente (gemmam) circulo coloris aurei,” Plin. 37, 10, 60, § 166: “Judam suo ambiebat exercitu,” Vulg. 2 Par. 13, 13.—
B. T. t. to designate the manner in which candidates for office sought to procure votes (v. ambitio), to go round after, to solicit, canvass for votes (syn. peto): “virtute ambire oportet, non fautoribus,” Plaut. Am. prol. 18: “quod si comitia placet in senatu habere, petamus, ambiamus,” Cic. Phil. 11, 8: “ambiuntur, rogantur,” id. Rep. 1, 31; id. Planc. 4: “singulos ex senatu ambiundo nitebantur, ne etc.,” Sall. J. 13, 8.—With acc. of the office: “magistratum sibi,” Plaut. Am. prol. 74.—
C. In gen., to solicit one for something, for his favor, friendship, etc., to strive for, seek to gain (syn.: “peto, sector): qui ambīssent palmam histrionibus,” Plaut. Am. prol. 69: nisi senis amicos oras, ambis, * Ter. And. 2, 2, 36: “reginam ambire affatu,” Verg. A. 4, 284: “conubiis ambire Latinum,” id. ib. 7, 333: “te pauper ambit sollicitā prece Ruris colonus,” Hor. C. 1, 35, 5: “ambiebat Jason summum sacerdotium,” Vulg. 2 Macc. 4, 7.—With ut or ne: “ambienti, ut legibus solveretur,” Suet. Caes. 18: “ambirent multi, ne filias in sortem darent,” id. Aug. 31.—With inf.: “donec ultro ambiretur consulatum accipere,” Tac. A. 2, 43: “pauci, qui ob nobilitatem plurimis nuptiis ambiuntur,” Tac. G. 18.
