I.“detergis,” Claud. Cons. Mall. Theod. 191: detergunt, id. ap. Eutr. 2, 375: “detergantur,” Dig. 33, 7, 12, § 21; Ap. Mag. 59, p. 312, 26; Sen. Ep. 47, 4, v. tergeo), v. a.
I. To wipe off, wipe away (class.).
A. Lit.: “sudorem frontis brachio,” Suet. Ner. 23; cf.: “lacrimas pollice,” Ov. M. 13, 746; cf.: “teneros fletus stamine,” Claud. in Eutr. 2, 375: “araneas,” Dig. 33, 7, 12, § 21.—Poet.: “nubila,” i. e. to drive away, remove, Hor. Od. 1, 7, 15; cf. sidera, to drive or chase away, Cic. Arat. 246.—
2. Transf., to cleanse by wiping, to wipe off, wipe clean, to clean out: “caput pallio,” Plaut. Cas. 2, 3, 20: “labra spongiā,” Col. 6, 9, 2; cf.: “se linguā,” id. 6, 6, 1: “frontem unguento,” Petr. 47, 1: “falces fibrina pelle,” Plin. 17, 28, 47, § 265: “cloacas,” Liv. 39, 44; cf. Suet. Aug. 18.—Comic: “mensam,” i. e. to clear, to empty, Plaut. Men. 1, 1, 2.—
B. Trop.
1. To take away, remove: “fastidia,” Col. 8, 10, 5: somnum, Claud. Epith. Pall. et Cel. 27.—
2. To cleanse, purge: “animum helleboro,” Petr. 88, 4; “secula foedo victu,” Claud. Cons. Mall. Theod. 1, 191.—
3. In colloq. lang., of money: “primo anno LXXX. detersimus,” have swept off, got, Cic. Att. 14, 10, 6.—
II. To strip off, break off; to break to pieces: “remos,” Caes. B. C. 1, 58; Liv. 28, 30 fin.: “pinnas asseribus falcatis,” id. 38, 5: “palmites,” Col. 4, 27 fin.