I.to dip, dip in, immerse; absol. also to plunge into water, to sink.
I. Lit. (class.): “eos (pullos) mergi in aquam jussit,” Cic. N. D. 2, 3, 7: “aves, quae se in mari mergunt,” id. ib. 2, 49, 124: “putealibus undis,” Ov. Ib. 391: “Stygia undā,” id. M. 10, 697: “prodigia indomitis merge sub aequoribus,” Tib. 2, 5, 80: “ab hoc (the sword-fish) perfossas naves mergi,” Plin. 32, 2, 6, § 15: “mersa navis omnes destituit,” Curt. 4, 8, 8: “mersa carina,” Luc. 3, 632: “cum coepisset mergi,” Vulg. Matt. 14, 30: “in immensam altitudinem mergi, ac sine ulla respirandi vice perpeti maria,” Sen. Dial. 4, 12, 4: “naves,” Eutr. 2, 20: “partem classis,” Vell. 2, 42, 2: “pars maxima classis mergitur,” Luc. 3, 753 sq.: “nec me deus aequore mersit,” Verg. A. 6, 348: “sub aequora,” Ov. M. 13, 948; Luc. 3, 753: “ter matutino Tiberi mergetur,” bathe, Juv. 6, 523.—Poet., of overwhelming waters, to engulf, swallow up, overwhelm, etc.: “sic te mersuras adjuvet ignis aquas,” Ov. Ib. 340: “mersa rate,” Juv. 14, 302.—
B. Transf.
1. To sink down, sink in, to plunge, thrust, or drive in, to fix in, etc. (poet. and post-Aug. prose): “palmitem per jugum mergere, et alligare,” to thrust, push, Plin. 17, 22, 35, § 180: “aliquem ad Styga,” Sen. Thyest. 1007: “manum in ora (ursae),” to thrust into, Mart. 3, 19, 4: “mersisque in corpore rostris Dilacerant (canes) falsi dominum sub imagine cervi,” Ov. M. 3, 249: fluvius in Euphratem mergitur, runs or empties into, Plin. 6, 27, 31, § 128: visceribus ferrum. to thrust into, Claud. ap. Eutr. 1, 447.—Of heavenly bodies, etc.: “Bootes, Qui vix sero alto mergitur Oceano,” sinks into, Cat. 66, 68.—
2. In partic., to hide, conceal: “mersitque suos in cortice vultus,” Ov. M. 10, 498: “vultum,” Sen. Herc. Oet. 1348: “diem or lucem, of the setting of the sun,” id. Thyest. 771: “terra caelum mergens, i. e. occidentalis, because there the sky seems to sink into the sea,” Luc. 4, 54. —Of those on board a vessel: mergere Pelion et templum, i. e. to sail away from until they sink below the horizon: “condere,” Val. Fl. 2, 6.—
II. Trop., to plunge into, sink, overwhelm, cover, bury, immerse, drown: “aliquem malis,” Verg. A. 6, 512: “funere acerbo,” to bring to a painful death, id. ib. 11, 28: “mergi in voluptates,” to plunge into, yield one's self up to sensual delights, Curt. 10, 3, 9: “se in voluptates,” Liv. 23, 18: “mergit longa atque insignis honorum pagina,” Juv. 10, 57.—Esp. in part. pass.: “Alexander mersus secundis rebus,” overwhelmed with prosperity, Liv. 9, 18: “vino somnoque mersi jacent,” dead drunk and buried in sleep, id. 41, 3; Luc. 1, 159; cf.: “lumina somno,” Val. Fl. 8, 66: “cum mergeretur somno,” Vulg. Act. 20, 9.—Esp. of those whose fortune is swallowed up in debts or debauchery: mersus foro, bankrupt, Plaut Ep. 1, 2, 13: “aere paterno Ac rebus mersis in ventrem,” Juv. 11, 39: “censum domini,” Plin. 9, 17, 31, § 67: “mergentibus sortem usuris,” sinking, destroying his capital, Liv. 6, 14: “ut mergantur pupilli,” be robbed of their fortune, ruined, Dig. 27, 4, 3: “mersis fer opem rebus,” bring aid to utter distress, Ov. M. 1, 380.—Of drinking to excess: “potatio quae mergit,” Sen. Ep. 12.