I.perf., esse, v. n., to be under, among, or behind; to be near, close, or at hand (class.): “ubi non subest, quo praecipitet ac decidat,” there is nothing underneath, Cic. Rep. 1, 45, 69; Lucr. 3, 873; cf. id. 4, 1082: si quid intra cutem subest ulceris, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 18, 3: “subucula subest tunicae,” Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 96: “nigra subest lingua palato,” Verg. G. 3, 388: suberat Pan ilicis umbrae Tib. 2, 5, 27: “cum sol Oceano subest,” Hor. C. 4, 5, 40.—
B. To be near, to be at hand, of places and persons: “mons suberat,” Caes. B. G. 1, 25: “montes,” id. B. C. 1, 65: “vallis,” id. ib. 1, 79: “planities,” Liv. 27, 18: “vicina taberna,” Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 24: “templa mari,” Ov. M. 11, 359; cf.: regnum Ariobarzanis illi, Sall. Ep. Mithrid. ad Arsac. med.: me subesse propinquis locis, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 21, 2.—
2. Transf., of time, to be near or at hand, to approach: “nox jam suberat,” was near, Caes. B. C. 3, 97; so, “hiems,” id. B. G. 3, 27: “dies comitiorum,” Cic. Mil. 16, 42.—
II. Trop., to be underneath, be at the bottom, be or exist under, lie concealed in: “in quā (legatione) periculi suspitio non subesset,” Cic. Phil. 9, 2, 4: “in quā re nulla subesset suspitio,” id. Rosc. Am. 10, 28; “and simply suspitio,” id. Quint. 21, 66: “eadem causa subest,” id. Off. 1, 12, 38: “causa aliqua,” id. Fin. 5, 10, 29; cf.: “si his vitiis ratio non subesset,” id. N. D. 3, 28, 71: “ratio,” Auct. Her. 1, 17, 27; Quint. 9, 3, 6: “si negabimus temere famam Naxi solere, quin subsit aliquid,” Auct. Her. 2, 8, 12: “si ulla spes salutis nostrae subesset,” Cic. Att. 3, 25: “nam illi regi amabili, Cyro, subest ad inmutandi animi licentiam crudelissimus ille Phalaris,” id. Rep. 1, 28, 44; Quint. 3, 5, 9: “saepe solent auro multa subesse mala,” are hid under, exist under, Tib. 1, 9, 18: “subest silentio facinus,” Curt. 6, 9, 11 et saep.— Poet.: “notitiae suberit amica tuae,” will be subject to your cognizance, Ov. A. A. 1, 398.