I.v. inch. n. [pateo], to be laid open, to be opened, to open (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose; not in Cic.).
I. Lit.: “atria longa patescunt,” Verg. A. 2, 483: “portus patescit,” id. ib. 3, 530: “patescens fungus,” Plin. 22, 22, 46, § 95. —
B. Transf., to stretch out, extend: “paulo latior patescit campus,” Liv. 22, 4: “neque poterat patescere acies,” Tac. H. 4, 78: “civitates, in quas Germania patescit,” id. G. 30; id. A. 2, 61 fin.; cf.: “latius patescente imperio,” Liv. 32, 27.—
II. Trop., to be disclosed, to become visible, evident, manifest: “ratio patescit,” Lucr. 5, 614: “nunc primum certā notitiā patescente,” Plin. 6, 23, 26, § 101: “tum vero manifesta fides Danaumque patescunt Insidiae,” Verg. A. 2, 309 (but the true reading, Cic. Phil. 14, 6, 15 B. and K., is quae res patefecit).