I. Act., to begin eagerly, to begin, undertake, attempt.
a. With inf.: “diffidere dictis,” Lucr. 1, 267: “oculi coeptant non posse tueri,” id. 4, 113; 4, 405; 6, 255: “contingere portus,” Cic. Arat. 131: “appetere ea, quae, etc.,” id. Fin. 5, 9, 24 (v. the passage in connection): “coercere seditionem,” Tac. H. 2, 29: “loqui,” id. ib. 3, 10; 3, 81; 5, 10: discedere et abire, * Suet. Oth. 11; Sil. 15, 696.—
b. With acc.: “quid coeptas, Thraso?” Ter. Eun. 5, 7, 1; id. Phorm. 4, 3, 21; and (acc. to Bentley's correction) id. Heaut. 4, 4, 12: “seditionem,” Tac. A. 1, 38; 1, 45; 2, 81: “defectionem,” id. ib. 4, 24: “fugam,” id. H. 3, 73: “pontem,” id. A. 1, 56: “coeptata libertas,” id. H. 4, 44.—
II. Intr., to begin, commence, make a beginning (only post-Aug. and rare): “coeptantem conjurationem disjecit,” Tac. A. 4, 27; id. H. 3, 4: “Olympiade septimā coeptante,” Sol. 1: “nocte coeptante,” Amm. 20, 4, 14.
