I.v. inch. n. [tabes], to melt gradually, to be dissolved or consumed; to waste, pine, or dwindle away; to decay, decline, languish (class.).
I. Lit.: “frigoribus durescit umor: et idem vicissim mollitur tepefactus et tabescit calore,” Cic. N. D. 2, 10, 26; cf. Lucr. 6, 516; so, “nives radiis (solis),” id. 6, 964; 3, 581: “cerae,” Ov. A. A. 2, 89: “sal,” Cato, R. R. 88, 1; Plin. 31, 8, 44, § 95: “calore Corpora,” Ov. M. 15, 363.—
II. Trop.: “crescere itemque dies licet et tabescere noctes,” Lucr. 5, 680; so, “senex dies,” Plaut. Stich. 5, 1, 8; Lucr. 5, 680: “lumina,” Cat. 68, 55: “tuo maerore maceror, Macesco, consenesco et tabesco miser, Ossa atque pellis sum miser macritudine,” id. Capt. 1, 2, 31: “aeterno luctu,” Lucr. 3, 911: “molestiis,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 17, 37: “desiderio alicujus,” id. Cat. 2, 4, 6: “dolore ac miseriā,” Ter. Ad. 4, 3, 12: “otio,” Cic. Att. 2, 14, 1: “assiduis curis,” Ov. Tr. 5, 1, 77: “ut semel (Hypsipyle) Aemonio tabuit hospitio,” Prop. 1, 15, 20 (18): “amore,” Ov. M. 3, 445; 4, 259: “quodque aliena capella gerat distentius uber, Tabescat,” i. e. is consumed with envy, Hor. S. 1, 1, 111: “ex quibus (litteris) perspicio, nobis in hac calamitate tabescendum esse,” Cic. Att. 3, 25 init.
