I.adv., from above, from overhead (repeatedly in the historians and poets; “not in Cic.): qui in phalangas insilirent et desuper vulnerarent,” Caes. B. G. 1, 52, 5 (a false reading in Caes. B. C. 1, 79, 2; but v. Lachm. ad Lucr. 6, 511; cf. Tac. A. 2, 16): “aprum jaculis desuper petit,” Suet. Tib. 72; Sen. Ep. 74: “desuper atrum nemus imminet,” Verg. A. 1, 165; 2, 47; 4, 122 al.: “nunc desuper Alpis colles abripimur,” Luc. 1, 688 (the construction as just before: feros Libyen; and Verg. E. 1, 65: sitientes ibimus Afros).—
II. Without the idea of motion, above (poet. and late): “desuper extentas imposuere togas,” Ov. F. 3, 529; Sil. 1, 349; Flor. 3, 2, 6; Just. 21, 6, 6; Vulg. Matt. 21, 7 et saep.
