I.part. gen. plur. torrentum, Stat. Th. 2, 6; Claud. III. Cons. Hon. 46; abl. torrenti, Sen. Brev. Vit. 9, 2), 2, v. a. Sanscr. tarsh, to thirst; Gr. τέρσομαι, to become dry; Germ. Durst.; Engl. thirst, to dry a thing by heat, to parch, roast, bake, scorch, burn, etc. (syn. frigo): “fruges receptas Et torrere parant flammis et frangere saxo,” Verg. A. 1, 179; Ov. M. 14; 273: “aristas sole novo,” Verg. A. 7, 720: “pisces sole,” Plin. 7, 2, 2, § 30: “apes mortuas sole verno,” id. 11, 20, 22, § 69: “uvam in tegulis,” id. 14, 9, 11, § 84 et saep.; Plaut. Cas. 2, 5, 2: “etiamsi in Phalaridis tauro inclusus succensis ignibus torrebatur,” Cic. Pis. 18, 42: e quibus (terrae cingulis) medium illum et maximum solis ardore torreri, id. Rep. 6, 20, 21: “cum undique flamma torrerentur,” Caes. B. G. 5, 43: “montes quos torret Atabulus,” Hor. S. 1, 5, 78; cf.: “torrentia agros sidera,” id. C. 3, 1, 31: tosti alti stant parietes, i. e. consumed, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 3, 19, 44 (Trag. v. 116 Vahl.): “carmina flammā,” Tib. 1, 9, 50: “tostos en aspice crines,” Ov. M. 2, 283: “in veribus exta,” to roast, Verg. G. 2, 396: “aliquid in igne,” Ov. F. 2, 578: “artus subjecto igni,” id. M. 1, 229: “carnem,” id. ib. 12, 155 et saep.—Of fever heat, to dry up: “at mihi (vae miserae) torrentur febribus artus,” Ov. H. 21, 169: “febris viscera ipsa torrens,” Sen. Ep. 14, 6; Juv. 9, 17.—Of thirst: “et Canis arenti torreat arva siti,” Tib. 1, 4, 42.—Of the heat of love: “si torrere jecur quaeris idoneum (Venus),” Hor. C. 4, 1, 12; cf.: “correptus saevo Veneris torrebar aëno,” Prop. 3 (4). 24, 13: “torret amor Cyri Lycorida,” Hor. C. 1, 33, 6: “me torret face mutuā Calais,” id. ib. 3, 9, 13: “me amor Glycerae,” id. ib. 3, 19, 28: “femineus pectora torret amor,” Ov. Am. 3, 2, 40.— *
II. Transf., of cold, to nip, pinch (cf. uro and aduro): frigore torret, Varr. ap. Non. 452, 11. — Hence, torrens , entis, P. a., in a neutr. sense, burning, hot, inflamed.
A. Lit. (rare): “terra torrens aestu,” Col. 4, 19, 3: “miles torrens meridiano sole,” Liv. 44, 38, 9: “Sirius,” Verg. G. 4, 425: “flammae,” id. A. 6, 550.—Comp.: Sirius torrentior, Claud. Nupt. Hon. et Mar. 20.—Sup.: “torrentissimus axis,” Stat. S. 3, 1, 52.—
B. Transf., of streams, rushing, roaring, boiling, impetuous, rapid, etc. (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “fluvii,” Varr. R. R. 1, 12, 3: “flumina,” Verg. E. 7, 52: “Nilus toto gurgite,” Val. Fl. 4, 409; cf.: “fluvius Novanus solstitiis torrens,” Plin. 2, 103, 106, § 229; 3, 4, 5, § 33: “aqua,” Verg. A. 10, 603: “unda,” id. G. 2, 451: “torrentes rapidique cursus amnium,” Just. 44, 1, 7; 4, 1, 9: “impetus (aquae),” Sen. Ep. 23, 8: “sanguis,” Luc. 2, 220; cf. “fatum,” id. 7, 505.—Comp.: “Padus torrentior,” Plin. 3, 16, 20, § 117.—Sup.: “Asopos torrentissimus,” Stat. Th. 7, 316.—Hence,
b. Subst.: torrens , entis, m., a torrent: “cum fertur quasi torrens oratio,” Cic. Fin. 2, 1, 3; Liv. 33, 18, 12; 35, 28, 8: “rapidus montano flumine torrens Sternit agros,” Verg. A. 2, 305: “fragosus,” id. ib. 7, 567; Ov. R. Am. 651: “tumidus,” id. Am. 1, 7, 43; Sen. Theb. 71; Juv. 6, 319; Luc. 7, 637.—Prov.: “numquam direxit bracchia contra torrentem,” Juv. 4, 90. —
2. Transf.: “armorum et virorum,” Sil. 12, 189: “umbrarum,” id. 13, 760; cf. “fortunae,” Flor. 2, 7, 1.—
3. Trop., of speech: “torrens dicentis oratio,” Quint. 3, 8, 60; so, “oratio,” Plin. 26, 3, 7, § 12: “copia dicendi,” Juv. 10, 9; Val. Fl. 4, 261.—Comp.: “sermo Promptus et Isaeo torrentior,” Juv. 3, 74.—Of an orator: “quem (Demosthenem) mirabantur Athenae Torrentem,” Juv. 10, 128.—
