I. Neutr., to open, stand or be open, to gape.
A. Lit.
1. In gen. (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): hiavit humus multa, Sall. Fragm. ap. Non. 318, 29; cf.: “(calor) venas astringit hiantes,” Verg. G. 1, 91: “vasti specus hiant defractis membris (colossi Rhodii),” Plin. 34, 7, 18, § 41; Hor. Epod. 8, 5: “nec flos ullus hiat pratis,” Prop. 4 (5), 2, 45. cf.: “hiantia lilia,” Ov. A. A. 2, 115: “quercum patulis rimis hiantem,” Gell. 15, 16, 2: Ch. Qui potuit videre? Ac. Oculis. Ch. Quo pacto? Ac. Hem hiantibus, Plaut. Merc. 1, 2, 71: “oculi hiantes,” Plin. 11, 37, 52, § 139: “cum pisciculi in concham hiantem innataverunt,” Cic. N. D. 2, 48, 123.—
2. In partic., to open the mouth, to gape, yawn: “inceptus clamor frustratur hiantes,” Verg. A. 6, 493: “perdices hiantes, exserta lingua aestuant,” Plin. 10, 33, 51, § 102: “trochilos crocodilum invitat ad hiandum pabuli sui gratia,” id. 8, 25, 37, § 90: “leo immane hians,” Verg. A. 10, 726: “lupus (piscis) hic Tiberinus an alto Captus hiet,” Hor. S. 2, 2, 32: “profluentem aquam hianti ore captantes,” Curt. 4, 16.—
B. Trop.
1. Of speech, to be badly connected, to leave a hiatus: “qui (vocalium concursus) cum accidit, hiat et intersistit et quasi laborat oratio,” Quint. 9, 4, 33; cf.: “hiare semper vocalibus,” id. ib. 20; and: “qui (poëtae), ut versum facerent, saepe hiabant: ut Naevius: Vos qui accolitis Histrum fluvium atque algidam, etc.,” Cic. Or. 45, 152; cf. “also: crebrae vocalium concursiones, quae vastam atque hiantem orationem reddunt,” Auct. Her. 4, 12, 18; and: “concursus hiantes,” Cic. Part. Or. 6, 21: “aspera et dura et dissoluta et hians oratio,” Quint. 8, 6, 62: “hians compositio,” Tac. Or. 21: “hiantia loqui,” Cic. Or. 9, 32.—
2. (Acc. to I. A. 2.) To gape, with longing, wonder, or curiosity; to be eager, to long for any thing; to be amazed: “huic homini si cujus domus patet, utrum ea patere an hiare ac poscere aliquid videtur?” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 4, § 8: “canis semper ad spem futuri hiat,” Sen. Ep. 72 med.; cf.: “corvum deludet hiantem,” i. e. the legacy-hunter, Hor. S. 2, 5, 56: “ne facies (equi) emptorem inducat hiantem,” id. ib. 1, 2, 88: “quem ducit hiantem Cretata ambitio,” Pers. 5, 176: “avaritiā semper hiante esse,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 54, § 134; cf. Tac. H. 1, 12 fin.: “hunc plausus hiantem Per cuneos ... Corripuit,” Verg. G. 2, 508: “luxus et ignavia lacerabat hiantem Desidia populum,” Sil. 11, 35.—
II. Act., to spew out (poet. and very rare): “subitos ex ore cruores Saucia tigris hiat,” i. e. spits, emits, Val. Fl. 6, 706.—
B. To bawl out, utter, sing: “fabula seu maesto ponatur hianda tragoedo,” Pers. 5, 3: “carmen lyra,” plays, Prop. 2, 31, 6 (3, 29, 6 M.).
