I.to spit back or out; to discharge by spitting; to cast out, cast off, eject, expel, etc. (class.; esp. freq. in the trop. signif.).
I. Lit.: “quin etiam gustatus, quam cito id, quod valde dulce est, aspernatur ac respuit,” Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 99: “quas natura respuerit,” id. N. D. 2, 9, 24: “lumen per cornum transit, at imber respuitur,” Lucr. 2, 389; cf. Quint. 1, 2, 28: “liquorem ab se,” Vitr. 7, 4; cf.: “ferrum ab se (opp. resorbere),” Lucr. 6, 1054; 2, 197; cf. Plin. 2, 103, 106, § 231; Pall. 1, 33, 2: “frenos cum sanguine (equus),” Stat. Th. 8, 544: “invisum cadaver (humus),” Ov. Ib. 170: “oleas albas propter amaritudinem respuit palatum,” Varr. R. R. 1, 66: “respuit aqua limum,” Pall. 1, 33, 2: “tantum interest repercussum illum (aëra) respuat an excipiat,” Plin. 33, 9, 45, § 128: “respuens securis materia,” id. 17, 10, 14, § 72; cf.: “tela omnia,” Luc. 3, 484.—
II. Trop., to reject, repel, refuse; to dislike, disapprove, not accept (syn.: “reprobo, reicio, repudio): quae nisi respuis ex animo longeque remittis,” Lucr. 6, 68: “cum id dicat, quod omnium mentes aspernentur ac respuant,” Cic. Fat. 20, 47; cf. id. Att. 13, 38 fin.: “ratio juris respuat hanc defensionem et pro nihilo putet,” id. Caecin. 19, 56; Liv. 42, 14: “haec aetas omne quod fieri non potest respuit,” Cic. Rep. 2, 10, 19: “quos et praesens et postera respuit aetas,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 42: “orationem,” Cic. Mur. 35, 74 fin.: “quo judex dicto moveatur quid respuat,” Quint. 6, 4, 19: “non respuit Caesar condicionem,” Caes. B. G. 1, 42: “Caesaris interdicta respuuntur,” are spurned, Cic. Att. 7, 26, 1; cf. Liv. 2, 41 fin.: “quod respuunt (aures) immutandum est,” Cic. Part. Or. 5, 15; Quint. 11, 1, 61; Tac. Or. 9; cf.: “nemo civis est, qui vos non oculis fugiat, auribus respuat, animo aspernetur,” Cic. Pis. 20, 45: “sunt enim qui respuant (consolationem), sed refert quo modo adhibeatur,” id. Tusc. 3, 33, 79.—Absol.: “quis te tum audiret illorum? respuerent aures,” Cic. Planc. 18, 44; Quint. 11, 1, 61; cf.: “calcitrat, respuit,” Cic. Cael. 15, 36.— *
