I. To prove, try, test any thing.
A. Lit. (very rare): “cum utrumque pugionem pertentasset,” Tac. H. 2, 49: alta bipenni latera, Petr. poët. 89, v. 24.—
B. Trop. (rare but class.): “aliquem,” Ter. And. 3, 4, 9: “animum cohortis,” Tac. H. 1, 29: rem, to consider or weigh well, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 4, 5: “omnia pertento, omnia experior,” Plin. Ep. 1, 20, 15: “nobilium adulescentium animos,” Liv. 2, 3, 6.—
II. To pervade, invade; to seize, affect (poet. and in postAug. prose): “dum prima lues ... Pertentat sensus,” Verg. A. 7, 354: “pertentant gaudia pectus,” id. ib. 1, 502: “tremor pertentet Corpora,” id. G. 3, 250: “vinolentiā ac fatigatione pertentatus,” App. M. 1, p. 107, 10.
