I.v. a., to cut off, cut away (class.): “vitem,” Varr. R. R. 1, 41, 3: “partes ex toto,” Cic. Univ. 7: “uvas a vite,” Col. 12, 43, 1: “segetes et prata,” id. 11, 1, 8: “spicas fascibus,” Liv. 42, 64: particulam undique, * Hor. Od. 1, 16, 15; and poet.: “saxa metallis,” to carve out, Stat. S. 2, 2, 85: “hordeum, pabulum, herbas,” Caes. B. C. 3, 58, 5; cf. “segetem,” Liv. 2, 5: “aures,” Caes. B. G. 7, 4 fin.; cf. “cervicem,” Liv. 31, 34: “spicas fascibus,” id. 31, 34: collum, *Verg. A. 8, 438.—
II. Transf.: “tu illud (prooemium) desecabis, hos agglutinabis,” Cic. Att. 16, 6 fin.