I.v. dep. a. [for ab-spernor, as as-pello for abpello, as-porto for ab-porto; cf. ab init.; Doed. Syn. II. p. 179, and Vanicek, p. 1182], lit., to cast off a person or thing (ab se spernari; cf. sperno and spernor); hence, to disdain, spurn, reject, despise (simply with the accessory idea of aversion = recuso, respuo, reicio, and opp. to appeto, concupisco; on the other hand, contemnere, not to fear, is opp. to metuere, timere; and despicere, not to value a thing, is opp. to revereri; cf. Doed. Syn. cited supra; class.; very freq. in Cic.; “more rare in the poets): alicujus familiam,” Ter. Phorm. 2, 3, 24 (aspernari = recusare, avertere, non agnoscere, Don.).
I. Lit.: “gustatus id, quod valde dulce est, aspernatur,” Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 99: “nemo bonus ... qui vos non oculis fugiat, auribus respuat, animo aspernetur,” id. Pis. 20; so id. Fat. 20, 47: “regem ut externum aspernari,” Tac. A. 2, 1: “matrem,” id. ib. 4, 57: “de pace legatos haud aspernatus,” id. ib. 15, 27: “hanc (proscriptionem) nisi hoc judicio a vobis reicitis et aspernamini,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 53: “voluptatem appetit, ut bonum: aspernatur dolorem, ut malum,” id. Fin. 2, 10, 31; so, “ut quodam ab hospite conditum oleum pro viridi adpositum, aspernantibus ceteris, solum etiam largius appetisse scribat,” Suet. Caes. 53: “si voluptatem aspernari ratione et sapientiā non possemus,” Cic. Sen. 12, 42: “querimonias alicujus aspernari, contemnere ac neglegere,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 51: “regis liberalitatem,” id. Tusc. 5, 32, 91 al.; Sall. C. 3, 4: “diis aspernantibus placamina irae,” Liv. 7, 3: “deditionem alicujus,” id. 8, 2; 9, 41 et saep.: “consilia,” Tac. G. 8: “sententiam,” id. ib. 11: “honorem,” id. ib. 27: “militiam,” id. H. 2, 36: “disciplinam,” id. A. 1, 16: “virtutem,” id. ib. 13, 2: “panem,” Suet. Ner. 48 fin.: “imperium,” Curt. 10, 5, 13 et saep.: “Interea cave sis nos aspernata sepultos,” Prop. 3, 5, 25: aspernabantur ceteros, * Vulg. Luc. 18, 9: “haud aspernanda precare,” Verg. A. 11, 106; Phaedr. 5, 4, 4.—With inf. as object: “illa refert vultu non aspernata rogari,” Stat. S. 1, 2, 105: “dare aspernabantur,” Tac. A. 4, 46. —In Cic. once, to turn away, avert (not from one's self, but from something pertaining to one's self): furorem alicujus atque crudelitatem a suis aris atque templis, Clu. 68 fin.—
II. Trop.: “qui colore ipso patriam aspernaris,” deny, Cic. Pis. 1.—!*? Pass.: qui habet, ultro appetitur; qui est pauper, aspernatur, is held in contempt, Cic. Fragm. ap. Prisc. p. 792 P.: “regem ab omnibus aspernari, Auct. B. Afr. 93: aspernata potio,” Arn. 5, p. 175.—Hence, aspernanter , adv. (qs. from the part. aspernans, which does not occur), with contempt, contemptuously: “aliquid accipere,” Amm. 31, 4; so Sid. Ep. 7, 2.— Comp., Aug. Mus. 4, 9.—Sup. prob. not used.
