I.to make blind, to blind.
I. Lit.: “sol caecat,” Lucr. 4, 325 (300); Paul. Nol. Carm. Nat. S. Fel. 20, 7; 20, 292: “unde caecatus est (Appius Claudius),” Aur. Vict. Vir. Ill. 34, 3.—Hence, in gardening: “oculum,” to destroy, Col. 4, 9, 2; 4, 24, 16; cf. caecus, I. C., and oculus.—
B. Trop.: “qui largitione caecarunt mentes imperitorum,” Cic. Sest. 66, 139: “ut (animi acies) ne caecetur erroribus,” id. Tusc. 5, 13, 39: “caecati libidinibus,” id. ib. 1, 30, 72: “cupiditate,” id. Dom. 23, 60: “caecata mens subito terrore,” Liv. 44, 6, 17: “pectora... serie caecata laborum,” Ov. P. 2, 7, 45: “caecabitur spes vindemiae,” Pall. 1, 6, 11: “timidos artus,” to make senseless, Verg. Cul. 198.—
B. Trop., of discourse: “celeritate caecata oratio,” rendered obscure, Cic. Brut. 76, 264.