I.to roll, turn, twist, or tumble about.
I. Act.
A. Lit.
1. In gen.
a. With acc.: “amphoras per terram,” Col. 12, 48, 4: “pelagus (ventus),” Luc. 1, 412: pilas e fimo pedibus. i. e. to form by rolling together, Plin. 11, 28, 34, § 98; cf. volvo, I.—With se: “se in pulvere,” to roll about, wallow, Plin. 30, 16, 53, § 148.—
b. More freq., mid.: “ut gallinae possint in pulvere volutari,” roll themselves, roll, Varr. R. R. 3, 9, 7: “sus caenoso lacu,” Col. 7, 10, 6: “super aureorum acervos ... toto corpore volutatus est,” Suet. Calig. 42 fin.: “volutati supra jacentia poma (irenacei),” Plin. 8, 37, 56, § 133; cf. “in allusion to the lit. signif. of the name Verres: quem (Verrem) in luto volutatum totius corporis vestigiis invenimus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 24, § 53: “(animi) corporibus elapsi circum terram ipsam volutantur,” id. Rep. 6, 26, 29: “cum tibi pueri ad pedes volutarentur,” Auct. Her. 4, 24, 33; so in part.: “genua amplexus genibusque volutans Haerebat,” Verg. A. 3, 607: “(amnis) per cava saxa volutans,” Ov. Am. 3, 6, 45: “in sacco et cinere volutantes,” Tert. Apol. 40 fin.—
2. In partic., in mal. part., Plin. 35, 11, 40, § 140; Sen. Contr. 1, 2; Petr. 79; Just. 12, 16, 2; Tert. ad Uxor. 9.—
B. Trop., to roll, roll about, roll along, etc.; to roll, wallow.
1. In gen.: “vocem per ampla atria,” to roll, spread, Verg. A. 1, 725; so, “vocem,” id. ib. 5, 149: “murmura,” id. ib. 10, 98: confusa verba. Ov. M. 12, 55.— “Mid.: cum omnes in omni genere et scelerum et flagitiorum volutentur,” wallow, Cic. Fam. 9, 3, 1: “in omni dedecore,” Auct. Her. 4, 13, 19: “inter mala plurima,” Sen. Vit. Beat. 24, 4.—
2. In partic.
(α).
To busy, occupy (of the mind): “animum saepe tacitis cogitationibus,” Liv. 9, 17, 2: “in veteribus scriptis studiose et multum volutatum esse,” Cic. de Or. 3, 10, 39; cf. id. Q. Fr. 2, 13, 4.—
(β).
To turn over or revolve in the mind; to consider, weigh, ponder: “rem in pectore,” Plaut. Capt. 4, 2, 1: “gladios in comisationem praeparatos volutabam in animo,” Liv. 40, 13, 4: “haec secum volutantem in animo,” id. 42, 11, 5: “hoc eum jam pridem volutare in animo,” id. 28, 18, 11: “haec in animo voluta,” Sen. Ep. 24, 15; cf.: “in pectore volutare,” Lact. 7, 16, 4: “ipse quid intra animum volutaverim ... omittam referre,” Tac. A. 4, 40: “nihil umquam nisi sempiternum et divinum animo volutare,” Cic. Rep. 1, 17, 28: “aliud atque aliud consilium animo,” Curt. 5, 12, 10; Tac. H. 2, 49; Sen. Cons. Marc. 11, 5: “aliquid mente,” Lucr. 3, 240: “tacitus mecum ipse voluto,” Verg. E. 9, 37: “inter seque,” Ov. M. 1, 389: “multa secum animo volutans,” Liv. 40, 8, 5: “haec secum volutans,” id. 30, 14, 3; 26, 7, 3: “secum corde,” Verg. A. 4, 533: “suo cum corde,” id. ib. 6, 185: “aliquid in secreto cum amicis,” to consider, discuss, Liv. 34, 36, 4: “consilia de Romano bello,” id. 34, 60, 2: “quibus suā sponte volutantibus res inter se repugnantes obtorpuerant animi,” id. 32, 20, 2.—
II. Neutr., to roll or tumble one's self (very rare): “leone obvio suppliciter volutante,” Plin. 8, 16, 21, § 56; so id. 35, 11, 40, § 140 (cf. I. A. 1. b. fin. supra).
