I.to project over or towards a thing, to bend or lean towards, to hang down over, overhang (syn. impendeo).
I. Lit. (mostly poet.): “collis plurimus urbi Imminet,” commands, Verg. A. 1, 420; cf.: “imminens prope ipsis moenibus tumulus,” Liv. 29, 35, 7: “imminens villae tua pinus esto,” Hor. C. 3, 22, 5: “candida populus antro Imminet,” Verg. E. 9, 41: “aër his,” Ov. M. 1, 52: “caelumque quod imminet orbi,” id. ib. 2, 7: “scopulus aequoribus,” id. ib. 4, 525: “apex collis subjectis arvis,” id. ib. 7, 779: “nemus desuper,” Verg. A. 1, 165: “arbos,” Ov. M. 4, 459: “imminet e celsis audentius improba muris Virgo,” Val. Fl. 6, 681; Quint. 11, 3, 130: “choros ducit Venus imminente luna,” shining overhead, Hor. C. 1, 4, 5: cum ageretur togata, simulans, caterva tota clarissima concentione in ore impuri hominis imminens contionata est: Huic vitae tuae, etc., bending or turning towards, Cic. Sest. 55, 118; cf.: “gestu omni imminenti,” bent towards him, id. de Or. 2, 55, 225.—
B. Transf., to be near to a thing, to touch on, border upon.
1. In gen. (rare): “imminet hic, sequiturque parem, similisque tenenti Non tenet,” Ov. M. 7, 785: “tergo fugacis,” id. ib. 1, 542: “carcer imminens foro,” adjoining, Liv. 1, 33, 8: “imminentia muro aedificia,” id. 2, 33, 7.—
2. In partic. (like impendere and instare), in an inimical sense, to threaten, menace, by nearness or commanding position (class.): “nimis imminebat propter propinquitatem Aegina Piraeeo,” Cic. Off. 3, 11, 46; cf.: “Carthago imminere jam fructuosissimis insulis populi Romani videbatur,” id. Agr. 2, 32, 87: “certior sum factus, Parthos ... Ciliciae magis imminere,” id. Att. 5, 20, 2: “imminent duo reges toti Asiae,” id. de Imp. Pomp. 5, 12: “circum insulas Italiae inminentes,” Liv. 21, 49, 1: “Mithridates Italiae quoque,” Vell. 2, 18, 4: “Parthi Latio,” Hor. C. 1, 12, 53: “Germaniae et Britanniae,” Suet. Calig. 19: “bello subegit gentem rebus populi Romani imminentem,” Cic. Rep. 2, 20: “instabat agmen Caesaris atque universum imminebat,” Caes. B. G. 1, 80 fin.: “imbrium divina avis imminentŭm,” Hor. C. 3, 27, 10: “turris ingens inminebat,” Liv. 21, 7, 7; 21, 11, 10: “inminentes tumuli,” id. 3, 7, 2. —
II. Trop. (class.).
A. To strive eagerly ofter a thing, to be eager for, to long for, be intent upon: “hujus mendicitas aviditate conjuncta in nostras fortunas imminebat,” Cic. Phil. 5, 7, 20; Liv. 30, 28, 9: “in alterius ducis exercitusque opprimendi occasionem imminebat,” id. 25, 20, 5: “huc imminet: om nes Dirigit huc sensus,” Verg. Cul. 89: “alieno imminere,” Sen. Ep. 2 fin.: “rebus,” Tac. A. 16, 14: “quod imminere emptioni publicanos videbat,” Suet. Aug. 24: “peritus rerum popularium imminensque ei potestati,” Liv. 3, 51, 9: “spei majoris honoris,” id. 4, 25, 9: “occasioni alloquendi regem,” Curt. 5, 11: “exitio conjugis,” Ov. M. 1, 146: “Verres avaritia semper hiante atque imminenti fuit,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 54, § 134.—
B. Transf. (acc. to I. B.), to be near at hand, to impend.
1. In gen.: “sunt qui ea, quae quotidie imminent, non videant,” Cic. Cat. 1, 12, 30: “mors, quae propter incertos casus quotidie imminet,” id. Tusc. 1, 38, 91.—
2. In partic., to threaten by nearness, to be imminent: “periculum, quod imminere ipsi portenderetur,” Suet. Claud. 29: “periculum ambobus,” id. Tit. 9: “imminentes undique insidiae,” id. Caes. 86: “discrimina undique,” id. Tib. 25: “summum discrimen,” Quint. 8, 4, 22: “bellum,” id. 12, 1, 43: “taedio praesentium et imminentium metu,” Suet. Vit. 15.
