I. Act. (rare), to strike one thing against or on another, to strike, bring, or join together, to unite.
B. Trop., to oppose in comparison, to contrast: “factum adversarii cum scripto,” Cic. Inv. 2, 43, 126.—
II. Neutr., to be in conflict, to contend, fight, combat.
A. Prop. (freq. and class. in prose and poetry); constr. with cum, contra, adversus, inter se, or absol.
(α).
With cum: “manu cum hoste confligere,” Cic. Off. 1, 23, 81; id. Imp. Pomp. 10, 28; id. Tusc. 4, 22, 50; id. Dom. 25, 66; Sall. C. 57 fin.; Liv. 4, 17, 8: “cum Hannibale acie,” id. 30, 19, 11; Suet. Vesp. 4.—
(β).
Contra: contra sceleratissimam conspirationem hostium, Brut. ap. Cic. Fam. 11, 13, a, 5.—
(δ).
Absol.: “ad confligendum venientibus undique Poenis,” Lucr. 3, 833: “armis,” Cic. Pis. 9, 20; id. Caecin. 16, 46: “angusto mari,” Nep. Them. 4, 5: “duas aquilas in conspectu omnium conflixisse,” Suet. Vesp. 5.—
2. Transf., of inanim. subjects: “confligunt hiemes aestatibus,” Lucr. 6, 373: “adversi venti Confligunt,” Verg. A. 2, 417.—
B. Trop.: “causae, quae inter se confligunt,” Cic. Cat. 2, 11, 25: “illae (naves) adeo graviter inter se incitatae conflixerunt, ut vehementissime utraque ex concursu laboraret,” Caes. B. C. 2, 6; cf. Quint. 3, 6, 12; 7, 7, 4. —Of a contest in words: “leviore actione confligere,” Cic. Caecin. 3, 8; so impers., Quint. 5, 7, 3; Cic. Fin. 4, 2, 3.