I.v. dep. n. [profacio, facesso, faciscor; orig., to make, i. e. put one's self forward; hence], to set out, start, go, march, travel, depart, etc. (class.; cf. progredior).
I. Lit.: “proficisci ad dormiendum,” to go to sleep, Cic. Div. 2, 58, 119: “ad somnum,” id. ib. 1, 30, 62: “ad sedes inquirendas,” Just. 3, 4, 10: “pabulatum frumentatumque,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 10: “subsidio alicui,” Nep. Iph. 2, 5: “ad bellum,” Caes. B. G. 6, 29; Liv. 4, 45 sq.; Nep. Alc. 4, 1: “ad eam domum,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 27, § 69: “Puteolos,” id. Ac. 2, 31: “in Illyricum,” Caes. B. G. 3, 7: “in pugnam,” id. B. C. 3, 99: “in bellum,” Just. 2, 11, 9; Gell. 17, 9, 8: “in expeditionem,” Sall. J. 103, 4: “in Volscos,” Liv. 2, 30; 2, 62; Just. 1, 6, 10: “in exercitum,” Plaut. Am. 5, 2, 7: “hinc in pistrinum rectā viā,” Ter. And. 3, 4, 21: “contra quosdam barbaros, Nep Eum 3, 5: Cyprum,” Ter. Ad. 2, 2, 16: “Corinthum,” id. Hec. 1, 2, 11: “domum,” id. Phorm. 5, 6, 20: “Genabum,” Caes. B. G. 7, 1: “Romam,” Sall. C. 34, 1: “domos,” Liv. 2, 14: “Circeios,” id. 2, 39: jussit proficisci exilium quovis gentium, Att. ap. Non. 185, 6 (Trag. Rel. v 599 Rib.): Jovinus eadem loca profectus, Amm 27, 8, 2.—With supine: “porro proficiscor quaesitum,” Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 98.—Absol.: “proficisci,” to make a journey, Dig. 17, 2, 52: “ab urbe,” to set out, depart, Caes. B. G. 1, 7: “ab Antio,” Liv. 2, 33: “ex castris,” to break up, Caes. B. C. 1, 78: “e castris,” id. ib. 1, 12: “domo,” Sall. J. 79, 4; Liv. 2, 26; 2, 4: “portu,” id. 9, 26: “regno,” Just. 37, 3, 4: “Athenis,” Nep. Milt. 1, 5: “de Formiano,” Cic. Att. 2, 8, 2.—
B. Transf., to be going or about to go, to intend to go to a place, to start (ante-class.): “potin' ut me ire, quo profectus sum, sinas?” Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 2: “tu profectus alio fueras, Ter Eun. 2, 2, 49: cum proficisceretur,” Caes. B. G. 3, 1; Cic. Cat. 2, 7, 15; Hor. Ep. 1, 13, 1; 2, 2, 20.—
II. Trop.
A. In gen., to go, come, proceed: “nunc proficiscemur ad reliqua,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 5, § 10.—
B. In partic.
1. To set out, begin, commence: “ut inde oratio mea proficiscatur, unde, etc.,” Cic. Imp. Pomp. 2, 4: “cum omnis haec quaestio ab eo proficiscatur,” id. Fin. 5, 8, 23; “a philosophiā profectus Xenophon scripsit historiam,” id. de Or. 2, 14, 58: “ei proficiscendum est ab omni mundo,” id. Fin. 3, 22, 73.—
2. To come forth, spring, arise, proceed, originate: “cum omnia officia a principiis naturae proficiscantur, ab iisdem necesse est proficisci ipsam sapientiam,” Cic. Fin. 3, 7, 23; 1, 12, 42; 3, 6, 22: “falsis initiis profecta,” id. ib. 1, 21, 72: “ex medicinā nihil oportet putare proficisci, nisi quod ad corporis utilitatem spectet,” id. Inv. 1, 38, 68: quaecumque a me ornamenta ad te proficiscentur, shall pass from me to you, i. e. you shall receive from me, id. Fam. 2, 19, 2: omnia quae a me profecta sunt in te, tibi accidisse gratissime, all you have received from me, id. ib. 3, 1, 1: “ut plura a parente proficisci non potuerint,” Nep. Att. 9, 4: “qui a Zenone profecti sunt,” who have proceeded from him, his disciples, Cic. Div 1, 3, 5; cf.: “omnes ab Aristotele profecti,” id. ib. 1, 35, 61.—So, to express descent (poet.): “Tyriā de gente profecti,” Ov. M. 3, 35; Verg. A. 8, 51.—Act. collat. form prŏfĭcisco , ĕre, to set out, go, etc. (anteclass.): “priusquam proficisco,” Plaut. Mil. 4, 8, 19; hortatur hominem, quam primum proficisceret, Turp. ap. Non. 471, 2.
