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sperno , sprēvi, sprētum, 3 (
I.perf. sync. sprērunt, Prud. Dittoch. 31), v. a. root spar-, to part; Sanscr. spar-itar, enemy; cf. Lat. parcus; Germ. sperren, to sever, separate, remove (syn.: segrego, separo; perh. only in the foll. passages): jus atque aequom se a malis spernit procul, Enn. ap. Non. 399, 10 (Trag. v. 224 Vahl.): “nunc spes, opes auxiliaque a me segregant spernuntque se,” Plaut. Capt. 3, 3, 2 Brix ad loc.: “ille illas spernit segregatque ab se omnis extra te unam,” id. Mil. 4, 6, 17 Lorenz ad loc.—
II. Transf., subject., to despise, contemn, reject, scorn, spurn (the class. signif.; esp. freq. after the Aug. period; syn.: contemnere, despicere; pro nihilo putare, etc.; “opp. colere): meam speciem spernat (a little later: se contemnit),” Plaut. Mil. 4, 6, 20: spernitur orator bonus, horridus miles amatur, Enn. ap. Gell. 20, 10 (Ann. v. 273 Vahl.): “non respondit, nos sprevit et pro nihilo putavit,” Cic. Phil. 13, 9, 21; id. Rep. 1, 43, 67: “cum spernerentur ab iis, a quibus essent coli soliti,” id. Sen. 3, 7: “sperni ab iis veteres amicitias, indulgeri novis,” id. Lael. 15, 54; Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 98: “me animo non spernis,” Verg. E. 3, 74: “comitemne sororem Sprevisti moriens,” id. A. 4, 678: “quis tam inimicus nomini Romano est, qui Ennii Medeam spernat,” Cic. Fin. 1, 2, 4: “veritas auspiciorum spreta est,” id. N. D. 2, 3, 9: “aliorum judicia,” id. Or. 13, 41: “prodigus et stultus donat quae spernit et odit,” Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 20 et saep.: “doctrina deos spernens,” Liv. 10, 40, 10: “conscientia spretorum (deorum),” id. 21, 63, 7; 30, 40, 5: “ab eo quoque spretum consulis imperium est,” id. 41, 10, 9; so, “imperium,” id. 8, 30, 11: “litteras praetoris,” id. 30, 24, 3: “consilium,” Ov. M. 6, 30; Curt. 3, 2, 18: “voluptates,” Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 55: “dulces amores,” id. C. 1, 9, 16: “cibum vilem,” id. S. 2, 2, 15: “(genus orationis) spretum et pulsum foro,” Cic. Or. 13, 42: “haudquaquam spernendus auctor,” Liv. 30, 45, 5; cf. Col. 1, 1, 4: “haud spernendos falsi tituli testes,” Liv. 4, 20, 11: “neque morum spernendus,” Tac. A. 14, 40: “spernens dotis,” App. Mag. p. 332.—Poet. with inf.: “nec partem solido demere de die Spernit,” Hor. C. 1, 1, 21: “obsequio deferri spernit aquarum,” Ov. M. 9, 117.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (26 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (26):
    • Cicero, Philippics, 13.9.21
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 6.30
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 9.117
    • Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, 4.6
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 4.678
    • Horace, Satires, 2.2.15
    • Tacitus, Annales, 14.40
    • Plautus, Captivi, 3.3
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 41, 10.9
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 30, 45.5
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 4, 20.11
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 10, 40.10
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 8, 30
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 30, 24.3
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 21, 63
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 30, 40.5
    • Cicero, De Republica, 1.43
    • Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, 1.2
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.3
    • Cicero, De Senectute, 3
    • Cicero, De Amicitia, 15
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 20.10
    • Columella, Res Rustica, 1.1.4
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 3.2.18
    • Cicero, Orator, 13.41
    • Cicero, Orator, 13.42
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