I.part. gen. plur. volantūm, Verg. A. 6, 728; Lucr. 2, 1083), 1, v. n. Sanscr. val-, to turn one's self, etc.; cf.: vŏlucer, vēlox, and vol- in velivolus, to fly.
I. Lit.: ex alto ... laeva volavit avis, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 95 Vahl.): “aves,” Lucr. 6, 742: “accipitres,” id. 4, 1010: “corvi,” id. 2, 822: “altam supra volat ardea nubem,” Verg. G. 1, 364: “volat ille per aëra magnum Remigio alarum,” id. A. 1, 300: “columbae venere volantes,” id. ib. 6, 191; Prop. 2, 30 (3, 28), 30; Juv. 8, 251: “apes,” Ov. A. A. 1, 96; cf. Plin. 10, 38, 54, § 112: “volasse eum (Antonium), non iter fecisse diceres,” Cic. Phil. 10, 5, 11.—Prov.: “sine pennis volare haud facile est,” Plaut. Poen. 4, 2, 49.—
2. P. a. as subst.: vŏlantes , ĭum, comm., the birds (poet.), Lucr. 2, 1083; Verg. A. 6, 239; 6, 728.—
II. Transf., to fly, i. e. to move swiftly like one flying, to fleet, speed, hasten along: “i sane ... vola curriculo,” Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 17; cf.: “per summa levis volat aequora curru,” Verg. A. 5, 819: “medios volat ecce per hostes Vectus equo spumante Saces,” id. ib. 12, 650: “illa (Argo) volat,” Ov. H. 6, 66: “currus,” Verg. G. 3, 181: “axis,” id. ib. 3, 107: “nubes,” Lucr. 5, 254: “fulmina,” id. 2, 213: “tempestates,” id. 6, 612: “telum,” id. 1, 971; cf. Sall. J. 60, 2; Verg. A. 9, 698; Liv. 26, 44, 7 al.: “litterae Capuam ad Pompeium volare dicebantur,” Cic. Att. 2, 19, 3: “volat aetas,” id. Tusc. 1, 31, 76: “hora,” Sen. Hippol. 1141: “fama,” Verg. A. 3, 121: “et semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum,” Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 71.—Poet., with inf.: “ast Erebi virgo ditem volat aethere Memphim Praecipere et Phariā venientem pellere terrā,” Val. Fl. 4, 407.
