Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.to sing at or before, i. e.,

I. To serenade a person: “senem,” Plaut. Stich. 4, 1, 66.—Absol.: “quid, si adeam ad fores atque occentem?” Plaut. Curc. 1, 2, 57: “hymenaeum,” id. Cas. 4, 3, 9 (dub.; al. offundam).—

II. In a bad sense, to sing a satirical song or pasquinade against any one (class.): occentassint antiqui dicebant, quod nunc convicium fecerint dicimus: quod id clare, et cum quodam canore fit, ut procul exaudiri possit, Paul. ex Fest. p. 181 Müll.: si quis occentavisset, sive carmen condidisset, quod infamiam faceret flagitiumve alteri, XII. Tab. ap. Cic. Rep. 4, 10, 12 (Fragm. ap. Aug. Civ. Dei, 2, 9); cf. Rein's Criminalrecht, p. 357 sq.—With acc. of the place: ostium, to sing a lampoon or pasquinade before one's door, Plaut. Pers. 4, 4, 20; id. Merc. 2, 3, 73.—

B. Transf., of birds of ill omen: “bubo occentans funebria,” singing dismal songs, Amm. 30, 5, 16.