I.part. pres.), v. a. lac.
I. To suck milk, to be a suckling: “Romulus parvus atque lactens, uberibus lupinis inhians,” Cic. Cat. 3, 8, 19; so, “lactens Juppiter puer,” id. Div. 2, 41, 85: “vitulus,” Ov. M. 2, 624; 10, 227: “lactens hostia,” Cic. Leg. 2, 12, 29; also absol.: “lactentibus rem divinam facere,” Liv. 37, 3.— Poet.: “viscera lactentia,” i. e. sucking children, sucklings, Ov. F. 6, 137.—Of the spring: “tener et lactens (sc. annus),” Ov. M. 15, 201. —
II. To contain milk or sap, to be milky, sappy, juicy: “verno tempore, cum lactent novella virentia,” Pall. 3, 26; cf.: “nam sata, vere novo, teneris lactentia sucis,” Ov. F. 1, 351: “frumenta in viridi stipula lactentia turgent,” Verg. G. 1, 315: “lactuca lactens,” Plin. 20, 7, 26, § 67.—Subst.: lactentĭa , ium, n., milk-food, milk-dishes, Cels. 2, 28.
