I. Adv. (comp. propius, and sup. proxime, v. under propior), near, nigh (class.).
A. Lit., in space: “quaenam vox mihi prope hic sonat? Quis hic loquitur prope?” Plaut. Rud. 1, 4, 10: “prope ad aliquem adire,” id. Cas. 3, 5, 32: “aedes accedere,” id. Most. 2, 2, 16: “prope alicubi esse,” Cic. Fam. 9, 7, 1: “intueri aliquid (opp. procul),” id. Sen. 14, 48.—
2. With ab, near to, near by, hard by: “bellum tam prope a Siciliā,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 2, § 6: “prope a meis aedibus,” id. Pis. 11, 26: “prope ab domo detineri,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 3, § 6.—So, comp.: “stellae, aliae propius a terris, etc.,” Cic. N. D. 1, 31, 87: “propius visere mala reipublicae,” Tac. A. 6, 26.—
B. Transf.
1. In time, near, not far off: partus instabat prope, was near at hand, Ter Ad. 3, 2, 9.—Esp. with quando, cum, ut, the time is near or not far off, when, etc.: “prope est, quando herus pretium exsolvet,” Plaut. Men. 5, 6, 25: “prope adest, quom alieno more vivendum est mihi,” Ter. And. 1, 1, 125: “partitudo prope adest, ut fiat palam,” Plaut. Aul. 2, 3, 9; Flor. 3, 17, 2: “nox prope diremit colloquium,” i. e. the approach of night, Liv. 34, 33, 3; cf. id. 32, 28, 7; 5, 16, 5.—
2. In degree, nearly, almost, about (cf.: “pene, ferme, fere): ejus filiam ille amare coepit perdite, Prope jam ut pro uxore haberet,” Ter. Heaut. 1, 1, 45; Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 4, § 10: “prope funeratus Arboris ictu,” Hor. C. 3, 8, 7: “prope firmissima earum regionum civitas,” Caes. B. G. 5, 20: “annos prope nonaginta natus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 25, § 62: “prope desperatis rebus,” id. Fam. 7, 28, 1: “sic prope oneratum est sinistrum cornu, ni, etc.,” Liv. 2, 65, 4; cf. id. 40, 32: “prope est factum ut exirent,” id. 25, 21: “prope est ut aliquid fiat,” something must be done, Dig. 35, 1, 67: “prope perditae res,” Liv. 5, 46, 7: “Fidenae prope saepius captae, quam, etc.,” id. 4, 32, 2: “prope desertum oppidum,” id. 4, 51, 8.—After the word it qualifies: “biennium prope,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 25, § 62: “princeps prope Stoicorum,” id. Ac. 2, 33, 107: “eisdem prope verbis,” id. Leg. 2, 25, 64: his prope verbis id. Fin. 4, 6, 15: cursu prope Chalcidem contendit, Liv. 31, 24, 2: “admirabilior prope,” id. 22, 37, 3: “omnes prope,” id. 1, 14, 4; 23, 49, 14; 30, 30, 8.— Comp.: “propius nihil est factum, quam ut, etc.,” Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 2, 5, § 15: “neque quidquam propius est factum, quam ut, etc.,” id. Clu. 21, 59.—
C. Trop., comp. propius, with inspicio, considero, nosco, etc., more closely, better (post - Aug.): “qualis esset ejus (mortis) velut propius inspectae natura,” Sen. Ep. 30, 8: “propius inspicere aliquem,” id. ib. 5, 6: “dixit futurum ut diviti displiceret propius inspectus,” id. Contr. 2, 9, 21, B.; 4, 15, 3; “10, 95, 1: quam (lancem) cum Agamemnon propius consideraret,” Petr. 1, 50: “propius noscendum,” Plin. Ep. 6, 16, 7; cf. penitus.—
II. Prep. with acc.
A. Lit., in space, near, near by, hard by: “prope oppidum,” Caes. B. G. 7, 36: “prope hostium castra,” id. ib. 1, 22: “prope amnem,” Verg. A. 8, 597: “non modo prope me, sed plane mecum habitare,” Cic. Fam. 7, 23, 4: “sedens prope limina tecti,” Ov. F. 1, 137.—
B. Transf.
1. In time, nigh, towards, about: “prope lucem,” towards daybreak, Suet. Claud. 44.—
2. Of abstract proximity, near to, almost to, not far from: “prope metum res fuerat,” Liv. 1, 25 fin.: “prope seditionem ventum est,” Tac. H. 3, 21; Dig. 17, 1, 29.
