I.v. n., to flow in different directions, to flow away (class.; repeatedly in Lucr.—cf.: laxo, rescindo, solvo).
I. Lit.: “diffluere humorem cernis,” Lucr. 3, 436; cf.: “ut nos quasi extra ripas diffluentes coerceret,” Cic. Brut. 91 fin.; cf.: “in plures partes (Rhenus),” divides itself, Caes. B. G. 4, 10, 4: “ut ab summo tibi diffluat altus acervus,” Lucr. 3, 198.—Poet., of that from which any thing flows: “duo juvenes, Sudore multo diffluentes,” dripping with perspiration, Phaedr. 4, 25, 23; so, “sudore,” Plin. 21, 13, 44, § 75.—
2. Transf., to dissolve, melt away, disappear: “privata cibo natura animantum Diffluit amittens corpus,” Lucr. 1, 1038: “juga montium diffluunt,” Sen. Ep. 91, p. 19 Bip.; “so,” to be wasted, Amm. 15, 8, 18.—
II. Trop., to be dissolved in, abandoned to: “luxuriā et lasciviā,” Ter. Heaut. 5, 1, 72: “luxuriā,” Cic. Off. 1, 30, 106: “luxu et inertia,” Col. 12 prooem. § 9, for which, in luxum, Prud: Symm. 1, 125: “deliciis,” Cic. Lael. 15; cf.: “otio diffluentes,” id. de Or. 3, 32 fin.: “luxu,” id. Tusc. 2, 22, 52; cf. “risu,” App. M. 3, p. 132.—In rhet.: “diffluens ac solutum,” loose, not periodic, Cic. Or. 70; 233; cf.: “verbis humidis et lapsantibus diffluere,” Gell. 1, 15.
