I.v. a., to roll together, roll up, roll round (first freq. in the post-Aug. per., esp. in Pliny the elder).
I. Lit.: “ignis semina convolvunt venti,” Lucr. 6, 200 sq.: “se sol,” Cic. Div. 1, 23, 46: “lubrica terga coluber,” Verg. A. 2, 474 (in acc. with Hom. Il. 22, 95: δράκων ἑλισσόμενος): “rapta turbines,” Sen. Ep. 94, 67: “se venae arborum,” Plin. 16, 39, 76, § 198 al.—So in part. perf.: “convoluti in semet dracones,” Plin. 10, 72, 92, § 197: “aër ignavo globo torpet,” id. 2, 8, 6, § 33; 11, 37, 45, § 124 al.—Poet.: “gentes mare,” i. e. involved by inundating, Luc. 4, 623.—Medial: pennis convolvitur Ales, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 44, 113.—
B. Esp.
1. To fasten together, interweave, interlace: “testudo convoluta omnibus rebus, quibus ignis jactus et lapides defendi possent,” Caes. B. C. 2, 2: “spartum convolutum osseis iligneisve conamentis,” Plin. 19, 2, 7, § 27.—
2. Of a written book or roll of manuscript, to unroll and roll up, as one reads; hence, to look over: “magnam partem (historiae),” Sen. Contr. 5 (10), prooem. § 8.—
II. Trop.: Gallograeciam quoque Syriatici belli ruina convolvit, involved, Flor. 2, 11, 1 (in Sen. Ep. 40, 2, the right read. is convellere).
