I.part. perf. tertus, Varr. ap. Non. 179, 7 and 8), v. a. for stergo; akin to stringo; Gr. στραγγεύω, to twist, to rub off, wipe off, wipe dry, wipe clean, cleanse.
I. Lit. (class.; “syn. verro): numquam concessavimus Lavari aut fricari aut tergeri aut ornari,” Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 10: mantelium, ubi manus terguntur, Varr L. L. 6, § 85 Müll.; so, “frontem sudario,” Quint. 6, 3, 60: “nares in adversum,” id. 11, 3, 121: “fossas,” to dry, Cato, R. R. 2, 4; Col. 2, 21, 3: “aequatam (mensam) mentae tersere virentes,” Ov. M. 8, 663: “pars leves clipeos et spicula lucida tergent,” rub off, polish, burnish, Verg. A. 7, 626: “arma,” Liv. 26, 51, 4: “leve argentum, vasa aspera,” Juv. 14, 62: “manuque simul velut lacrimantia tersit Lumina,” Ov. M. 13, 132: “oculos pedibus,” Plin. 11, 48, 108, § 258. — Poet.: “aridus unde aures terget sonus ille,” grates upon, Lucr. 6, 119: “nubila caeli (Aurora),” to scatter, Sil. 16, 136: “tergere palatum,” to tickle the palate, Hor. S. 2, 2, 24. — Absol.: qui tractant ista, qui tergunt, qui ungunt, qui verrunt, * Cic. Par. 5, 2, 37: “si QVIS TERGERE ORNARE REFICERR VOLET (sc. aram),” Inscr. Orell. 2489.—
II. Trop. (very rare): “librum,” i. e. to improve, amend, Mart. 6, 1, 3: “scelus,” to expiate, Sen. Herc. Oet. 907.—Hence, tersus , a, um, P. a., wiped off, i. e. clean, neat (not in Cic.).
A. Lit.: “(mulier) lauta, tersa, ornata, etc.,” Plaut. Stich. 5, 5, 4; cf id. Pa. 1, 2, 31; cf.: alii sunt circumtonsi et tersi atque unctuli, Varr. ap Non. 179, 8: “plantae,” Ov. M. 2, 736: “tersum diem pro sereno dictum ab antiquis,” Fest. p. 363 Müll. —
B. Trop., pure, correct, nice, neat, terse: judicium acre tersumque. Quint. 12, 10, 20: “tersum ac limatum esse oportet quod libris dedicatur,” id. 12, 10, 50: “elegiae tersus atque elegans auctor,” id. 10, 1, 93; of in comp.: “multo est tersior ac purus magis (Horatius),” id. 10, 1, 94: “opus tersum, molle, jucundum,” Plin. Ep. 9, 22, 2; so, “praefationes tersae, graciles, dulces,” id. ib. 2, 3, 1.—Sup.: “vir in judicio litterarum tersissimus,” Stat. S. 2 praef.—No adv.
