I.to make rough, uneven.
I. A.. Lit. (very freq. in the poets and Tac., but not found in Cic.): “asserculi asperantur, ne sint advolantibus lubrici,” Col. 8, 3, 6: “tum enim (apes) propter laborem asperantur ac macescunt,” become rough, Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 20: “cum torpent apes, nec caloribus asperantur,” Pall. 7, 7, 2: “(vinum myrtites) limum dysentericae passionis medicabiliter asperare, i. e. excrementa solidiora reddere,” id. 3, 31, 2: “Et glacialis hiemps aquilonibus asperat undas,” throws into commotion, Verg. A. 3, 285; so Luc. 8, 195; Val. Fl. 2, 435: Minervae pectus asperare hydris, Prud. περὶ στεφ. 14, 275.—
B. Transf., to furnish with a rough, wounding exterior (cf. 1. asper, I.): “sagittas inopiā ferri ossibus asperant,” to point, Tac. G. 46.—Hence, also, to whet, to sharpen: “pugionem vetustate obtusum asperari saxo jussit,” Tac. A. 15, 54: “abruptaque saxa asperat,” Luc. 6, 801 (cf. id. 7, 139: nisi cautibus asper Exarsit mucro, and exaspero).—
II. Trop., to make fierce, to rouse up, excite, exasperate: “indomitos praeceps discordia fratres asperat,” Stat. Th. 1, 137: “hunc quoque asperavere carmina in saevitiam,” Tac. A. 1, 72 fin.; 3, 12: “ubi asperatum Vitellium satis patuit iis, qui etc.,” id. H. 3, 38: “ne lenire neve asperare crimina videretur,” to make more severe, to aggravate, heighten, id. A. 2, 29: “iram victoris,” id. H. 2, 48.
