I.v. dep. freq. (act. form amplexo , analog to amplecto, Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 60; Att. ap. Non. 470, 11; Lucil. ap. Prisc. p. 791 P.; Petr. 63) [amplector], to embrace, encircle (more rare than the simple verb; for the most part only anteclass., and in Cic. and eccl. Lat.).
I. Lit.: “aram amplexantes,” Plaut. Rud. 3, 3, 33: “tenebit praedam et amplexabitur,” keep it fast, Vulg. Isa. 5, 29.—Esp., in love, at greeting, parting, etc., Plaut. Truc. 5, 33; id. Mil. 5, 40: mitto jam osculari atque amplexari, * Ter. Heaut. 5, 1, 27: “inimicum meum, sic amplexabantur, sic fovebant, sic osculabantur,” Cic. Fam. 1, 9: “Arsinoë corpore suo puerorum corpora amplexata protexit,” Just. 24, 3: “amplexatus est eum,” Vulg. Gen. 33, 4; 45, 14; ib. Jud. 19, 4.—
II. Trop., to love, honor, cherish, esteem: “Appius totum me amplexatur,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 12: “otium,” id. Sest. 45, 98; so id. Clu. 44; id. de Or. 3, 17; id. Fin. 4, 14: species (i. e. ἰδέας) mirifice Plato erat amplexatus, i. e. adamaverat, suas fecerat, id. Ac. 1, 9 al.: “quae amplexamini,” Sall. C. 52, 5.
