I.pluperf. percepset for percepisset, Poët. ap. Cic. Off. 3, 26, 98; v. Trag. Rel. p. 207 Rib.), v. a. capio, to take wholly, to seize entirely (cf. occupo).
I. Lit.
A. To take possession of, to seize, occupy: “mihi horror misero membra percipit dictis tuis,” Plaut. Am. 5, 1, 66: “priusquam percipit (eum) insania,” id. Men. 5, 5, 22; id. Stich. 2, 2, 17: “neque urbis odium me umquam percipit,” Ter. Eun. 5, 5, 2: “vitae percipit humanos odium,” Lucr. 3, 80; 5, 605.—
B. To take to one's self, to assume: “varii sensus animantibus insunt, quorum quisque suam proprie rem percipit in se,” Lucr. 6, 985: “rigorem,” Ov. M. 4, 745: “colorem,” Plin. 21, 5, 13, § 26: “sucum thymi,” Col. 11, 3, 40.—
C. To get, obtain, receive: “serere, percipere, condere fructus,” to gather, collect, Cic. Sen. 7, 24: “praemia,” Caes. B. C. 2, 32: “fructum ex oleā,” Plin. 15, 1, 1, § 3: “civitatem ab aliquo,” Just. 43, 5, 13: “hereditatem,” Suet. Tib. 15; Petr. 141.—
II. Trop. (so most freq. in class. lang.; syn.: sentio, intellego, comprehendo).
A. To perceive, observe: “ne, quod hic agimus, erus percipiat fieri,” Plaut. Curc. 1, 3, 2: “quod neque oculis, neque auribus, neque ullo sensu percipi potest,” Cic. Or. 2, 8: “crebraeque nunc querelae, nunc minae percipiebantur,” were heard, Caes. B. C. 3, 84; Liv. 2, 3, 5: “quae dicam,” i. e. hear, Cic. Cat. 1, 11, 27: “et aures, cum sonum percipere debeant,” id. N. D. 2, 56, 141; so, “percipe auribus,” hear, give ear, Vulg. Psa. 16, 1 et saep.—
B. To feel: “neque majorem voluptatem ex infinito tempore aetatis percipi posse, quam ex hoc percipiatur,” Cic. Fin. 1, 19, 63: “voluptatem,” id. ib. 1, 11, 37: “luctus,” id. Fam. 14, 11: “dolores,” id. ib. 14, 11: “gaudia,” Ov. P. 2, 1, 60.—
C. To learn, know, conceive, comprehend, understand, perceive, etc.: “res percepta et cognita,” Cic. Ac. 2, 14, 44: “percipere et comprehendere,” id. ib. 2, 8, 26: “cognosci et percipi posse,” id. Fin. 1, 19, 64: “aliquid animo,” id. de Or. 1, 28, 127: “artificium aliquod,” id. ib. 1, 28, 127: “virtutem et humanitatem,” id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 10: “philosophiam,” id. de Or. 1, 51, 219: “praecepta artis,” id. Off. 1, 18, 60: “omnium civium nomina perceperat,” knew, id. Sen. 7, 21: “nomen Graecum, sed perceptum usu a nostris,” known, id. N. D. 2, 36, 91.—Hence, perceptus , a, um, P. a., perceived, observed.—Hence, subst.: percep-ta , ōrum, n., doctrines, principles, rules of an art or science: percepta appello, quae dicuntur Graecis θεωρήματα, Cic. Fat. 6, 11. —Sing.: “pro percepto liquere,” as proved, certain, Gell. 14, 1, 11.