I. An onset, attack, assault: “reprimebat barbaricos appetitus,” Amm. 30, 5.—Far more freq.,
II. Trop.
A. A passionate, eager longing or desire for a thing (in the class. per. perh. only in Cic.): “adpetitus voluptatis,” Cic. Off. 1, 30, 105: “sub te erit appetitus ejus,” Vulg. Gen. 4, 7; ib. Ezech. 21, 16.—Hence, without gen.,
B. The power or faculty of desire: duplex est vis animorum atque naturae: una pars in adpetitu posita est, quae est ὁρμή Graece, quae hominem huc atque illuc rapit, altera in ratione, etc., Cic. Off. 1, 28, 101; so id. N. D. 2, 47, 122; id. Div 1, 32.—
C. The passions, appetites: “ut adpetitus rationi oboediant,” Cic. Off. 1, 29, 102; so id. N. D. 2, 12, 34.