I.v. inch. n. and a. [hio; whence also hiasco].
I. Neutr., to open, gape, yawn.
A. In gen.: “tellus, ait, hisce,” Ov. M. 1, 546; cf.: magnae nunc hiscite terrae, Poët. ap. Quint. 9, 2, 26: “rima hiscit,” Plin. 17, 14, 24, § 108: “st, tace, aedes hiscunt,” Plaut. Ps. 4, 1, 42.—
B. In partic., to open the mouth, to mutter (so most freq. and class.): respondebisne ad haec? aut omnino hiscere audebis? * Cic. Phil. 2, 43, 111: “adversus dictatoriam vim,” Liv. 6, 16, 3: “adversus praepotentis viros,” id. 45, 26, 7; 9, 4, 7; 10, 19, 7: “cum non hisceret, ego intercessi,” Gell. 15, 9, 10: “quoties sinit hiscere fluctus, Nominat Alcyonem, Ov M. 11, 566: raris turbatus vocibus hisco,” speak, Verg. A. 3, 314: “dicere jussus Philotas non hiscere audebat,” Curt. 1, 9, 32: “si quid tentaveris umquam hiscere,” Juv. 5, 127: “loquantur, hiscant,” Lact. 5, 19, 14.—
II. Act., to speak, relate any thing (poet.): hem vereor, plus quam fas est captivum hiscere, Att. ap. Non. 120, 30: “quicquam,” Ov. M. 13, 231: tantum operis nervis hiscere posse meis, Prop. 3, 3 (4, 2), 4 (for which: “carmen hiare lyra,” id. 2, 31 (3, 29), 6).
