I.pres. contŭor , Plaut. As. 2, 3, 23; Stat. Achill. 1, 131: “contuimur,” Lucr. 4, 35; inf. contui, Plaut. As. 1, 1, 111; 3, 1, 20; id. Most. 3, 2, 152; Pompon. ap. Non. p. 470, 31; cf. tueor and intueor; and in act. form contuo, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 2, or Fragm. v. 95 Vahl.), v. a.
I. To look on, gaze upon, behold, survey, to consider attentively (syn. conspicio; rare but class.; most freq. in Cic.).
A. Lit.: “occepi contui, conspicio coleatam cuspidem,” Pompon. 1. 1.: “totam terram contueri ejusque situm, formam, etc.,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 20, 45: “hanc sedem et aeternam domum,” id. Rep. 6, 23, 25: “os,” id. Sull. 27, 74: “te duobus oculis,” id. N. D. 3, 3, 8: “aliquid,” id. de Or. 3, 59, 221: “longinqua (opp. prope admota non cernere),” Plin. 11, 37, 54, § 142 sq.; Suet. Aug. 94; “id novum Agesilaus contuens,” beholding this novelty, Nep. Chabr. 1, 2.—Absol.: “alicui acrius contuenti voltum summittere,” Suet. Aug. 79; so Plin. 29, 6, 38, § 132.—Of a place personified: Acrocorinthus utraque maria contuens. Mel. 2, 3, 7; cf. Cic. Dom. 57, 146. —
B. Trop., to take into view, to weigh, ponder maturely, to observe (rare): “quod bene propositum si plane contueare, Ac videas plane,” Lucr. 6, 653: “a contuendis malis avocare aliquem,” Cic. Tusc. 3, 16, 35.—
b. With the access. idea of carefulness, to see to, take care of, preserve carefully: “pecus sic contuendum, ne,” Varr. R. R. 2, 5, 16.—
II. Inchoat. (cf. conspicio, II.), to get sight of, perceive, descry (very rare): “si volturios forte possis contui,” Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 152: “figuras miras simulacraque in somnis,” Lucr. 4, 35.
