I.pluperf. subj. saepissent, Liv. 44, 39, 3 dub.; v. Drak. ad loc.), 4, v. a. saepes.
I. Prop., to surround with a hedge, to hedge in, fence in, enclose (class.; cf. vallo).
A. With abl.: VTI LOCVS ANTE EAM ARAM ... STIPITIBVS ROBVSTIS SAEPIATVR, Cenot. Pisan. ap. Inscr Orell. 642; cf.: “saeptum undique et vestitum vepribus et dumetis indagavi sepulcrum,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 23, 64; cf. id. Rep. 1, 26, 41.—
C. With abl. of time: pontifices negant segetem feriis saepiri debere, Col 2, 21, 2.—
II. Transf.
A. To enclose, surround, encircle, etc.
1. With abl.: “urbem moenibus,” Cic. Sest. 42, 91: “oppidum operibus, unitionibus,” id. Phil. 13, 9, 20: “castris,” id. Fam. 15, 4, 10; cf. Liv. 5, 5, 2; 44, 39, 3: “castra tectis parietum pro muro,” id. 25, 25, 8: “oculos membranis tenuissimis,” Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 142 sq.: “saltum plagis,” Lucr. 5, 1251: “feram venantum coronā,” Verg. A. 9, 551: “restituat legiones in locum, quo saeptae fuerunt,” Liv. 9, 11, 3: “Agrippam custodiā militum,” Suet. Aug. 65 fin.: “saepsit se tectis,” i. e. shut himself up in his palace, Verg. A. 7, 600.—
2. With acc.: “saepsit comitium et curiam,” Cic. Rep. 2, 17, 31: “omnes fori aditūs,” id. Phil. 5, 4, 9.—
B. To cover, envelop, wrap, wrap up; with abl.: “aliquem veste,” Plaut. Cas. 5, 2, 40: saeptus squalidā stolā (with vestitus), Enn. ap. Non. 537, 27 sq.: “omnia sic avido complexu cetera saepsit (sc. aether),” Lucr. 5, 470: “at Venus obscuro gradientes aëre saepsit,” Verg. A. 1, 411.—
III. Trop.
A. To hedge up, check, impede, hinder, stop, etc.: perii, lacrimae linguam saepiunt, Afran. ap. Non. 41, 5.—
B. To surround, enclose, encompass, etc.: (inventa) vestire atque ornare oratione: post memoriā saepire, to enclose them in one's memory, i. e. to get them by heart, Cic. de Or. 1, 31, 142; cf.: is se circumvestit dictis, saepit sedulo, Poët. ap. Cic. de Or. 3, 39, 158; and: “domi teneamus eam (orbam eloquentiam) saeptam liberali custodiā,” Cic. Brut. 96, 330; v. Jahn ad h. l.: locum omnem cogitatione (the figure taken from surrounding with toils in hunting; cf. “II. A.),” Cic. de Or. 2, 34, 147: “saeptus legibus et judiciorum metu,” surrounded, sheltered, guarded, id. Phil. 12, 10, 25; cf.: “quibus praesidiis philosophiae saeptus sim,” id. Fam. 16, 23; so, “saeptus praesidiis,” id. Rep. 1, 44, 68; id. Off. 2, 11, 39; id. Mil. 1, 2; cf. “also: postquam omnia pudore saepta animadverterat,” Liv. 3, 44; “and with this cf.: (mulieres) saeptae pudicitiā agunt,” Tac. G. 19: “(lex) se saepit difficultate abrogationis,” Cic. Att. 3, 23, 2: “ut quibusdam excubiis in ore positis saepiatur,” Gell. 1, 15, 3.