I.“SVRVORSVM,” Inscr. Grut. 204), adv. contr. from sub-vorsum, from below, i. e. up, upwards, on high (opp. deorsum; class. and very freq.).
I. Denoting motion: “cum ex alto puteo sursum ad summum escenderis,” Plaut. Mil. 4, 4, 14: “ascendere in tectum,” id. Am. 3, 4, 25: “illuc,” id. ib. 3, 4, 17: “quid nunc supina sursum in caelum conspicis?” id. Cist. 2, 3, 78: “subducere susum animam,” Cato, R. R. 157, 15; cf. “infra, II.: flammae expressae sursum (opp. deorsum ferri),” Lucr. 2, 204: “adspicit nil sursum,” Mart. 1, 97, 11: sursum ac deorsum diducere, Tubero ap. Gell. 7 ($3), 4, 3; Quint. 11, 3, 105.—
b. Pleon. joined with versus (versum, vorsum), Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 123: “vineam sursum vorsum semper ducito,” Cato, R. R. 33, 1; 32, 1: “sursus enim vorsus gignuntur et augmina sumunt: Et sursum nitidae fruges arbustaque crescunt,” Lucr. 2, 189: “cum gradatim sursum versus reditur,” Cic. Or. 39, 135; so, “sursum versus,” id. Part. Or. 7, 24; Lact. 3, 24, 1; Gell. 2, 1, 2; Varr. R. R. 1, 32 fin.—
c. Sursum deorsum, up and down, to and fro: “sursum deorsum ultro citroque commeantibus,” Cic. N. D. 2, 33, 84: “ne sursum deorsum cursites,” Ter. Eun. 2, 2, 47.—Prov.: “omnia ista sursum deorsum fortuna versavit,” topsy-turvy, Sen. Ep. 44, 4; cf.: “quod sursum est, deorsum faciunt,” i. e. they turn every thing upside down, Petr. 65 fin.—
II. Denoting situation or locality, high up, above (very rare): qui colunt deorsum, magis aestate laborant; “qui sursum, magis hieme ... nec non sursum quam deorsum tardius seruntur ac metuntur,” Varr. R. R. 1, 6, 3: “praeterito hac rectā plateā sursum,” Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 35: “nares, quod omnis odor ad supera fertur, recte sursum sunt,” Cic. N. D. 2, 56, 141.
