I.to set foot upon, to stand, tread, or press upon; constr. mostly with dat., also with in and abl. or acc., or the simple acc. (class.).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.
(α).
With dat.: “nec desunt villae quae secutae fluminis amoenitatem margini insistunt,” Plin. Ep. 8, 8, 6: “ut proximi jacentibus insisterent,” stepped upon them, Caes. B. G. 2, 27: “alternis pedibus,” Quint. 11, 3, 128: “volucres metuunt insistere ramis,” Luc. 3, 407: “vestigiis,” Liv. 25, 33 fin.: “huic (saxo) institerat frustra,” Ov. F. 5, 150: “plantis,” Juv. 6, 96: “clamoso circo,” occupy a place in, id. 9, 144.—
(β).
With in and abl.: “insistebat in manu Cereris dextra simulacrum Victoriae,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 49, § 110: “cingulus australis, in quo qui insistunt,” id. Rep. 6, 20: “in jugo,” Caes. B. G. 4, 33: “ipse non insistere in terra poterat,” Curt. 7, 7, 6.—
(γ).
With in and acc.: “in sinistrum pedem,” Quint. 11, 3, 125; cf.: “corvus repente super galeam insistit,” lights, Gell. 9, 11, 7.—
(δ).
With the simple acc.: “plantam,” Plaut. Cas. 4, 4, 21: “limen,” to step upon, to tread the threshold, Verg. A. 6, 563: “vestigia nuda sinistri pedis,” id. ib. 7, 690: “primis infans vestigia plantis,” id. ib. 11, 574: “cineres,” Hor. Epod. 16, 11.—
B. Esp.
1. To enter on or pursue a way, path, or journey: “cum semel institerunt vestigia certa viaï,” Lucr. 1, 407: “huc an illuc iter,” Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 11: “omnes itinera insistant sua,” id. Capt. 4, 2, 14: “quam insistam viam,” Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 3; id. Phorm. 1, 4, 14; Liv. 37, 7, 8.—
2. In hostile sense, to follow, pursue, press on; with dat.: “effusis hostibus,” Liv. 26, 44, 4: “fugientibus,” id. 27, 13, 4: “contenti non institere cedentibus,” Curt. 8, 11, 18; Nep. Eum. 4.—Pass. impers.: “ut fracto jam Maroboduo, usque in exitium insisteretur,” Tac. A. 2, 62.—
II. Trop.
A. In gen., to follow, pursue.
B. Esp.
1. To follow up, pursue an object or enterprise; to press vigorously, apply one's self to: “in dolos,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 4, 4: “totus et mente et animo in bellum,” Caes. B. G. 6, 5. — With acc.: “hoc negotium,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 3, 54: “manus,” Cic. de Or. 3, 45, 176.—With dat.: “rebus magnis,” Tib. 4, 1, 135: “perdomandae Campaniae,” Tac. H. 3, 77.—
2. To set about, devote one's self to, to begin with zeal; with inf.: tribuni orare dictatorem insistunt, ut, etc., Liv. 8, 35, 2: “Appium institit sequi,” id. 25, 19, 8; 24, 26, 11; 24, 46, 1; cf.: “postero die ad spolia legenda foedamque spectandam stragem insistunt,” id. 22, 51, 5: “flagitare senatus institit Coruntum, ut,” Cic. Fam. 10, 16, 1. — Absol.: “sic institit ore,” i. e. began to speak, Verg. A. 12, 47; cf.: “sic insistit secumque corde volutat,” i. e. to reflect, think, id. ib. 4, 533.—
3. To persevere, continue, persist in; with inf.: “credere,” Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 53: “tueri,” Nep. Att. 11.—With dat.: “sin crudelitati insisteret,” Tac. A. 16, 25: “spei,” id. H. 2, 46: “caedibus,” id. A. 2, 21: “studiis,” to pursue diligently, Quint. 1, 12, 10: “obsidioni,” Curt. 7, 6, 23: “curae rerum,” Plin. 28, 1, 1, § 2: “funeri,” to set forward, id. 7, 52, 53, § 177. — Absol.: “importune,” to persist, Cic. Ac. 2, 25, 80; Tac. A. 4, 60.—
4. To press upon, urge; with dat.: “atriensibus ut supellectilem exponant,” Col. 12, 3, 9: “id bellum ipsis institit moenibus,” was at, Liv. 2, 51, 2.—Absol.: “dilataque tempora taedae Institerant,” were at hand, Ov. M. 9, 769: “institit quantum potuit ut illum ex eorum manibus liberaret,” urged, insisted, Aug. in Psa. 63, 4. —
III. To press upon, repress; and hence, to halt, pause, stop, stand still: “stellarum motus insistunt,” Cic. N. D. 2, 40, 103: “ut non referat pedem, insistet certe,” id. Phil. 12, 3, 8; Tac. A. 4, 60: “quae cum dixisset paulumque institisset,” Cic. Fin. 5, 25, 75; id. Or. 56, 187: “saepe accidit, ut aut citius insistendum sit, aut longius procedendum,” id. ib. 66, 221; so, to pause in thought, hesitate, doubt: “ille in reliquis rebus non poterit eodem modo insistere?” Cic. Ac. 2, 33, 107; 2, 29, 94.—
