I.to join or bind together, to plait, interweave, entwine, etc.
I. Lit. (so only in part. perf.): “accipiunt sertas nardo florente coronas,” Luc. 10, 164; Cypr. Ep. 4, 3: “flores,” App. M. 4, p. 156, 4; 10, p. 254, 38: “rosa,” id. ib. 2, p. 121, 131: “loricae,” linked, Nep. Iph. 1 fin.; cf. Serv. Verg. A. 1, 421.—
B. Subst.: serta , ōrum, n., wreaths of flowers, garlands (freq. and class.): “arae sertis recentibus halant,” Verg. A. 1, 417: “coronae, serta,” Plaut. As. 4, 1, 58; Lucr. 4, 1128; 4, 1174; Cic. Tusc. 3, 18, 43; id. Cat. 2, 5, 10; Cat. 6, 8; Verg. E. 6, 16; Tib. 1, 1, 12; 1, 2, 14; 1, 7, 52 et saep. al.—Rarely in sing.: “roseo Venus aurea serto,” Aus. Idyll. 6, 88.—Collat. form serta , ae, f. (sc. corona): “cum tua praependent demissae in pocula sertae,” Prop. 2, 33 (3, 31), 37; id. et Corn. Sev. ap. Charis. p. 83 P.—
II. Trop., to join, connect, interweave; to combine, compose, contrive (class. but rare; syn.: jungo, cieo, instruo): seritote diem concorditer ambo, i. e. alternate according to the succession (in the government), Enn. ap. Charis. p. 177 P. (Ann. v. 110 Vahl.): “ex aeternitate causa causam serens,” joining in order, following, Cic. Fat. 12, 27: “cujus (fati) lege immobilis rerum humanarum ordo seritur,” is arranged, disposed, Liv. 25, 6: “bella ex bellis serendo,” by joining war to war, Sall. H. 4, 61, 20 Dietsch: “tumultum ex tumultu, bellum ex bello serunt,” id. ib. 1, 48, 7 ib.; cf. Liv. 21, 10; cf.: “certamina cum Patribus,” to join, engage in, id. 2, 1; so, “certamina,” id. 27, 12; 27, 41; 40, 48: “crebra proelia,” Tac. H. 5, 11: quod mihi servus sermonem serat, joins speech, i. e. bandies words with me, Plaut. Curc. 1, 3, 37; cf. id. Mil. 3, 1, 106: “multa inter sese vario sermone serebant,” Verg. A. 6, 160; Stat. Achill. 2, 38, id. Th. 6, 941: “aliquid sermonibus occultis,” Liv. 3, 43; 7, 39; 33, 32: “secreta colloquia cum eo,” id. 34, 61: “populares orationes,” to put together, compose, id. 10, 19; cf.: “(Livius) ab saturis ausus est primus argumento fabulam serere,” id. 7, 2, 8: “quid seris fando moras?” why are you contriving? Sen. Med. 281: “negotium,” to make, prepare, Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 51: “crimina belli,” Verg. A. 7, 339.