I.v. n., to creep up to any thing, approach stealthily (class.).
I. Lit.: “et possim mediā quamvis obrepere nocte,” Tib. 1, 9 (8), 59; Flor. 4, 10, 2: “qui Gallos in obsidione Capitolii obrepentes per ardua depulerat,” Gell. 17, 21, 24.—With dat.: “feles quam levibus vestigiis obrepunt avibus!” Plin. 10, 73, 94, § 202.—
II. Transf.
A. In gen., to steal upon, come suddenly upon one; to take by surprise, to surprise.
(α).
With dat.: “qui enim citius adulescentiae senectus, quam pueritiae adulescentia obrepit?” Cic. Sen. 2, 4: mihi decessionis dies λεληθότως obrepebat, id. Att. 6, 5, 3; cf. in the foll. under ε: “cui obrepsit oblivio,” Sen. Ben. 3, 2, 1: “vitia nobis sub virtutum nomine obrepunt,” id. Ep. 45, 7.—
(β).
With acc. (ante-class., and in Sall.): “tacitum te obrepet fames,” Plaut. Poen. prol. 14: “si tanta torpedo animos obrepsit,” Sall. H. 1, 49, 19.—
(γ).
With ad: “Plancium non obrepsisse ad honorem,” to creep up to, to come at by stealth, Cic. Planc. 7, 17: “obrepsisti ad honores errore hominum,” id. Pis. 1, 1. —
(δ).
With in and acc.: imagines obrepunt in animos dormientium extrinse cus, Cic. Div. 2, 67, 139; Ambros. Off. Mi. nist. 3, 6, 41.—（ε) Absol.: “obrepsit dies,” Cic. Att. 6, 3, 1: “obrepit non intellecta senectus,” Juv. 9, 129.—
B. In partic., to surprise, deceive, cheat: “numquam tu, credo, me imprudentem obrepseris,” Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 23; 4, 2, 132; Flor. 4, 10; Gell. 6, 12, 4.—Impers. pass.: “si obreptum praetori sit de libertate,” Dig. 40, 5, 26, § 8; 26, 7, 55, § 4.
