I. In gen., to take away a thing before another, to snatch or tear away, to carry off (class.): “quid huc venisti sponsam praereptum meam?” Plaut. Cas. 1, 14: Tun meo patre es prognatus? Men. Immo equidem, meo. Tuom tibi ego neque occupare neque praeripere postulo, id. Men. 5, 9, 21: “aliquem alicui,” Ter. Eun. 1, 2, 81: “maritum,” Vulg. Gen. 30, 15: “arma Minervae,” Ov. Am. 1, 1, 7: “aliis laudem,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 1, 2; Hirt. B. G. 8, prooem. § 5:“ cum ea praerepta et extorta defensioni suae cerneret, in quibus, etc.,” Plin. Ep. 3, 9, 16; cf. Hirt. ap. Suet. Caes. 56: “alicui cibos,” Plin. 10, 9, 11, § 27.—
II. In partic.
A. To snatch away before the time, to carry off prematurely: “deorum beneficium festinatione,” Cic. Phil. 14, 2, 2: “immaturā morte praereptus,” Aur. Vict. Vir. Ill. 5: brevibus praereptus in annis, snatched away prematurely, sc. by death, Val. Fl. 5, 571: “IN PRIMO AETATIS FLORE PRAEREPTVS,” Inscr. Grut. 350, 6.—
B. To take away quickly: “oscula,” to snatch kisses, Lucr. 3, 896: codicillos, to take or seize hastily, Suet. Ner. 49.—
C. To forestall, anticipate: “non praeripiam,” I will not anticipate, Cic. Att. 10, 1, 2: “hostium consilia,” baffle in advance, id. Off. 1, 30, 108: “scelere praerepto doles,” Sen. Thyest. 1104.—
D. With se, to take one's self off hastily, to make one's escape: “praeripuit se ad amicum,” Dig. 21, 1, 17.