I.v. inch. a. and n. manus-suesco; lit., to accustom to the hand; hence,
I. Act., to tame, to make tame (in the verb. finit. ante- and post-class.; but cf. infra, mansuetus).
A. Lit.: “silvestria animalia,” Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 4: “tigres, Coripp. Johann. 6, 253: fructus feros,” Lucr. 5, 1368; v. Lachm. ad h. l.— *
B. Trop., to render mild, gentle, or peaceable: gentes, Coripp. Johann. 6, 484.—
II. Neutr. ( = mansuetum fieri), to become or grow tame (in the verb. finit. only poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
B. Trop., to grow tame, gentle, mild, soft: “nesciaque humanis precibus mansuescere corda,” Verg. G. 4, 470: “umor,” Lucr. 2, 475: “tellus,” Verg. G. 2, 239: “radii,” Petr. 122: “fera mansuescere jussa,” Juv. 11, 104.—Hence, mansŭētus (MASVETA, Inscr. Grut. 688, 2), a, um, P. a., tamed, tame.
A. Lit.: “juvenci diebus paucis erunt mansueti,” Varr. R. R. 1, 20, 2: “sus,” Liv. 35, 49: “cum (apes) sint neque mansueti generis, neque feri,” Plin. 11, 5, 4, § 12: “stabula, i. e. mansuetarum pecudum,” Grat. Cyn. 164.—
B. Trop., mild, soft, gentle, quiet, etc. (syn. mitis; “opp. ferus): illud quaero, cur tam subito mansuetus in senatu fuerit, cum in edictis tam fuisset ferus,” Cic. Phil. 3, 9, 23: “amor,” Prop. 1, 9, 12: “manus,” id. 3, 14, 10: “malum,” Liv. 3, 16: “litora,” tranquil, not stormy, Prop. 1, 17, 28.—Comp.: ut mitior mansuetiorque fiat, Asellio ap. Prisc. p. 668 P.: “nam me jam ab orationibus dijungo fere, referoque ad mansuetiores Musas,” Cic. Fam. 1, 9, 23: “ira,” Ov. Tr. 3, 6, 23.—Sup.: “ut mansuetissimus viderer,” Cic. de Or. 2, 49, 201: “ingenium,” Val. Max. 2, 7, 11.—Hence, adv.: mansŭētē (acc. to B.), gently, mildly, calmly, quietly, etc.: “clementer, mansuete factum,” Cic. Marcell. 3, 9: “adeo tum imperio meliori animus mansuete obediens erat,” Liv. 3, 29, 3: “ferre fortunam,” Auct. Her. 4, 52, 65.—Comp.: “mansuetius versari,” App. M. 9, p. 236, 10.
