I.v. inch. n. [lentus], to become viscous or sticky; to become pliant, soft (perh. not ante-Aug.).
I. Lit.: “salix, si minus lenta est, in stercore obruenda, ut lentescat,” Col. 11, 2, 92: “sed picis in morem ad digitos lentescit habendo,” becomes viscous, adheres, Verg. G. 2, 250: “ut in picem resinamve lentescit,” Tac. G. 45: “gemma cerae modo lentescit,” Plin. 37, 10, 70, § 185: “metallum in virgulas lentescens,” Hier. Ep. 24, n. 3.—
II. Trop., to slacken, relax: “lentescunt tempore curae,” Ov. A. A. 2, 357. —Of persons: “non torpenti lentescit affectu,” Ambros. in Luc. 8, 1.
