I.to cast forth, throw out; to dig, tear, or pluck out (freq. and class.).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “qui sciet, ubi quidque positum sit, quaque eo veniat, is, etiam si quid obrutum erit, poterit eruere,” Cic. Fin. 4, 4 fin.; so, “aurum terrā,” Ov. Am. 3, 8, 53; cf.: “caprificos sepulcris,” Hor. Epod. 5, 17: “gemmam vadis,” Mart. 8, 28; Tac. A. 2, 69: “segetem ab radicibus imis,” Verg. G. 1, 320; cf.: “pinum radicibus,” id. A. 5, 449 Heyne N. cr.; and: “herbam radicitus,” Plin. 21, 11, 36, § 62: “mortuum,” Cic. Div. 1, 27 fin.: “oculum,” Plin. 25, 8, 50, § 89; 28, 8, 29, § 114: “dentes de sinistra parte,” id. 28, 8, 27, § 95: “aquam remis,” lo stir up, plough up, Ov. H. 5, 54; cf.: “sepulcra (hyaena),” Plin. 8, 30, 44, § 106.—Poet. in Greek construction: “eruitur oculos,” his eyes are torn out, Ov. M. 12, 269 (cf. Zumpt, Gram. § 458).—
B. Since the Aug. per., sometimes, in partic., to root out, to destroy from the foundation: “urbem totam a sedibus,” Verg. A. 2, 612; Sil. 3, 2, 13; cf. under II. B. 2.—
II. Trop.
A. In gen., to draw out, bring out, elicit: inde tamen aliquando (servum fugitivum) eruam, Vat. ap. Cic. Fam. 5, 9 fin.; cf. Curt. 4, 14: “scrutari locos, ex quibus argumenta eruamus,” Cic. de Or. 2, 34, 146; cf. id. Tusc. 1, 13: “si quid est, quod indagaris, inveneris, ex tenebris erueris,” id. Agr. 1, 3: “ex annalium vetustate eruenda est memoria nobilitatis tuae,” id. Mur. 7, 16: “memoriam,” id. de Or. 2, 68, 360: “veritatem,” Quint. 12, 9, 3: “causam rerum et rationem,” Plin. 18, 4, 5, § 24: “sacra recognosces annalibus eruta priscis,” Ov. F. 1, 17: “mi sicunde potes, erues, qui decem legati Mummio fuerint,” Cic. Att. 13, 30, 2 et saep.: fanum erui volo; “neque hoc mihi erui potest,” I cannot be talked out of it, id. ib. 12, 36.—
B. In partic.
1. To rescue, release: “propter difficultatem pecuniariam, qua erui nusquam nisi ex privatorum bonis posset,” Cic. Att. 10, 14, 1.—
2. To overthrow, destroy: “Trojanas ut opes et lamentabile regnum Eruerint Danai,” Verg. A. 2, 5; cf. “civitatem,” Tac. H. 4, 72: “Thracas (with frangere gentem),” Stat. Th. 5, 76.