I.inf. oscitarier, Turp. ap. Non. 322, 18; or Com. Rel. v. 15 Rib.) [oscieo], to open the mouth wide, to gape.
I. Of plants, to open, unclose: oscitat in campis caput a cervice revulsum, of the plant lion's-mouth, Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 10, 396; cf. Col. 10, 260; and: “(arborum) folia cotidie ad solem oscitant,” turn towards the sun, Plin. 16, 24, 36, § 88.—
II. Of living beings, to gape, yawn: “ut pandiculans oscitatur,” Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 80; * Lucr. 3, 1065: “clare ac sonore oscitavit,” Gell. 4, 20, 8.— With acc.: “quid adhuc oscitamus crapulam hesternam,” August. Ver. Rel. 3.—
B. Trop., to be listless, drowsy, inactive (cf.: “dormio. sterto): cum majores (calamitates) impendere videantur, sedetis et oscitamini,” i. e. are listless, idle, negligent, Auct. Her. 4, 36, 48; cf. the foll.—Hence, oscĭtans , antis, P. a., listless, sluggish, lazy, negligent (class.): “interea oscitantes opprimi,” Ter. And. 1, 2, 10: quae Epicurus oscitans allucinatus est, qs. half asleep, Cic. N. D. 1, 26, 72.—Of abstract things: “oscitans et dormitans sapientia,” Cic. de Or. 2, 33, 144.—* Adv.: oscĭtanter , carelessly, negligently: “quod ille tam solute egisset, tam leniter, tam oscitanter,” Cic. Brut. 80, 277.
