I.imperf. saevibat, Lucr. 5, 1003; fut. saevibo, Mar. Vict. from Macr. 20, p. 443), v. n. saevus, to be fierce or furious, to rage, to vent one's rage (very freq. since the Aug. per.; once in Cæs.; not in Cic.; but saevus and saevitia several times in Cic.).
I. Lit., of animals: “ubi equus saevit,” Lucr. 5, 1075: “(lupus) rabieque fameque,” Ov. M. 11, 369: “anguis,” Verg. G. 3, 434: “panthera,” Phaedr. 3, 2, 14: “leo,” Val. Fl. 6, 613 al.: “aper in pecudes,” Ov. M. 8, 296: “accipiter in omnes aves,” id. ib. 11, 345: “canes in alios saevientes,” Gell. 7, 1, 6.—
B. Esp., of the cries of enraged animals: “hinc exaudiri gemitus iraeque leonum, ... atque in praesepibus ursi Saevire,” Verg. A. 7, 17 Forbig. ad loc. (cf. Rib. ad loc., who conjectures mugire): “agni balant, porcelli gruniunt, ursi saeviunt,” Spart. Get. 5.—
II. Transf., of any strong, passionate excitement, to rage, rave; to be furious, mad, violent, angry, etc. (cf.: furo, bacchor).
A. Of persons: “here mi, nimium saevis,” Plaut. Cas. 3, 5, 20; id. Truc. 5, 4; cf. id. Ps. 5, 1, 4: “ah, ne saevi tantopere,” Ter. And. 5, 2, 27: “ne saevi, magna sacerdos,” Verg. A. 6, 544: “si quid saeviunt senes,” Plaut. Ep. 5, 1, 51: “leniter qui saeviunt sapiunt magis,” who control their anger, id. Bacch. 3, 3, 4: “saevire Fortuna ac miscere omnia coepit,” Sall. C. 10, 1: “saeviens turba,” Liv. 8, 24: “seditionibus saevire,” id. 2, 44: “in delectibus saevire solitos,” id. 2, 44 Drak.: “(paedagogi) imperiosi atque interim saevientes,” Quint. 1, 1, 8: “saevire securibus,” Plin. Pan. 52, 4: “saevit animis ignobile vulgus,” Verg. A. 1, 149: “animis acerbis (with procedere longius iras),” id. ib. 5, 462: “pater ardens Saevit, quod, etc.,” Hor. S. 1, 4, 49: “saeviat atque novos moveat Fortuna tumultus,” id. ib. 2, 2, 126: “saevire in tergum et in cervices,” Liv. 3, 45: “in obsides innoxios,” id. 28, 34: “in delubra,” id. 31, 30: “in se ipsum,” id. 1, 53: “in conjuges ac liberos,” Tac. Agr. 38; id. A. 3, 31 fin.; Suet. Aug. 13; Ov. M. 4, 712 al.; cf.: “flagellis in aliquem,” Juv. 10, 180; and: “in se (corresp. to manus sibi inferre),” Dig. 29, 5, 1, § 22.— Poet., with dat.: “qui mihi nunc saevit,” Ov. H. 4, 148; Tib. 1, 2, 88.—Poet., with inf. (cf. saevus, II. A.): “cum manus impia saevit Sanguine Caesareo Romanum exstinguere nomen,” Ov. M. 1, 200.—Impers. pass.: “clade saevitum est,” Suet. Ner. 38: “constat Trojā captā in ceteros saevitum esse Trojanos,” Liv. 1, 1: “in aliquid (aliquem),” id. 34, 14; 41, 6; Vell. 2, 74, 44; Tac. Agr. 2; id. A. 1, 49; 4, 20; id. H. 2, 62 al.—
B. Of things: “saevit minaci murmure ventus,” Lucr. 1, 276; cf.: “frustra mare saepe coortum Saevibat,” id. 5, 1003: “dum longus inter saeviat Ilion Romamque pontus,” Hor. C. 3, 3, 37: “pelagus,” Tac. A. 15, 46: “mare ventis,” Sall. J. 78, 3: ventus, * Caes. B. G. 3, 13 fin.; cf. “Aufidus,” Hor. C. 4, 14, 27: “medius dies solstitio,” Sen. Hippol. 766: “venenum in praecordiis,” Hor. Epod. 3, 5: “gula,” Juv. 5, 94; cf. “venter (sc. fame),” App. M. 4, p. 145: “arbor stridoribus,” Sil. 13, 600: “cum tibi flagrans amor ... Saeviet circa jecur ulcerosum,” Hor. C. 1, 25, 15: “saevit amor ferri,” Verg. A. 7, 461; 4, 532: “dolor in erepto amore,” Prop. 2, 8, 36 (8 b, 20): “dolor in praecordiis,” Petr. 17, 8: “ira in aliquem,” Ov. M. 14, 193: “quo fortuna magis saevit,” id. P. 2, 3, 51: “fames,” Val. Fl. 4, 499: “morbus,” Gell. 12, 5, 4: acerbus odor. Val. Fl. 4, 493: “acer hinnitus equorum,” Sil. 4, 97: oratio ferociens saeviensque (opp. demissa jacensque), Gell 1, 11, 15.
