I.perf. surrepsti, Cat. 77, 3), v. n. and a., to creep under, to creep or steal along, creep softly on, steal upon, to come on unawares, insensibly, or by degrees, etc. (not freq. till after the Aug. per.).
I. Lit.: sub tabulas, * Cic. Sest. 59, 126: “clathris facile,” Col. 9, 1, 9: “urbis moenia,” Hor. S. 2, 6, 100: “surrepens lacerta,” Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 70: in aulam, Claud. ap. Ruf. 1, 177.—Poet., of inanim. subjects: “mediis surrepit vinea muris,” advances slowly, Luc. 2, 506: “surrepit crinibus umor,” Claud. Rapt. Pros. 3, 251: “ars mea cogit, Insita praecoquibus surrepere persica prunis,” to grow out, Calp. Ecl. 2, 43.—
II. Trop.: “alicui,” Cat. 77, 3: vide, quam non subrepam tibi. Sen. Cons. ad Marc. 1, 5: “blanda quies furtim surrepit ocellis,” Ov. F. 3, 19: “surrepsit fratribus horror,” Stat. Th. 11, 476: surrepet iners aetasTib. 1, 1, 71: “insinuatio surrepat animis,” Quint. 4, 1, 42: “dissimulata actio,” id. 4, 1, 60: “oblivio cibi huic,” Plin. 8, 22, 34, § 84: “paulatimque et Romae subrepsit appellatio,” id. 21, 2, 3, § 5: “vitia,” Sen. Ep. 90, 5: “terror pectora,” Sil. 15, 136: “nullosque Catonis in actus surrepsit voluptas,” Luc. 2, 391.—Impers. pass.: “ita surrepetur animo judicis,” Quint. 4, 5, 20. — Hence, P. a. as subst.: subreptum , i, n., only adverb.: “scandentes in subreptum felium modo,” stealthily, Plin. 10, 18, 20, § 40.
