I.to cover over, cover up (for protection or concealment) (syn.: obtendo, velo, celo; class.).
I. Lit.: “insuper lingua bubula obtegito,” Cato, R. R. 40: “in pectus perpluit meum, neque jam umquam obtigere possum,” Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 8: “domus arboribus obtecta,” Verg. A. 2, 300: “armis,” Caes. B. C. 3, 19: “se servorum et libertorum corporibus,” Cic. Sest. 35, 76: “os obtegendum, fauces velandae,” Cels. 3, 22. —
II. Trop., to veil, hide, conceal, keep secret: “obtegere errata,” Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 23: “vitia multis virtutibus obtecta,” Cic. Cael. 18, 43: “ut adulescentiae turpitudo obscuritate obtegatur,” id. Vatin. 5, 11: “nihil,” id. Att. 1, 18, 1: “scelera nuper reperta priscis verbis,” Tac. A. 4, 19: “flagitia,” id. ib. 13, 33.— With gen.: “animus audax, sui obtegens in alios criminator,” Tac. A. 4, 1.—
B. To protect: “aegre precibus meliorum obtectus,” Tac. A. 16, 5.