I.an ambush, ambuscade (class.).
I. Lit
A. Of persons: “qui sustinuerant primos impetus insidiarum,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 19: “equites procedere longius jussi, donec insidiae coorirentur,” Tac. H. 2, 24.—
B. Of place: “si forte in insidias devenero,” Plaut. As. 1, 1, 92: “signa aenea in insidiis ponere,” Cic. Deiot. 7, 21: “milites in insidiis collocare,” Caes. B. G. 3, 20: “intrare insidias,” id. B. C. 3, 38.—Particular phrases.
(α).
To lay an ambush for any one: “insidias dare alicui,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 3, 32: “facere vitae alicujus,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 3, 4: “ponere vitae alicujus,” id. Sest. 18, 41: “insidias penitus abstrusas ponere contra aliquem,” id. Agr. 2, 18, 49: “parare alicui,” id. Rosc. Am. 9, 26: “tendere,” id. Rosc. Com. 16, 46: “collocare,” id. Mil. 10, 27: “comparare,” id. Clu. 16, 47: “struere,” id. ib. 66, 190: “componere,” Tac. H. 5, 22: “compo nere in aliquem,” Prop. 2, 32 (3, 30), 19: componere alicui, Tib. 1, 6, 4: “disponere,” Quint. 4, 2, 48: “afferre ovilibus,” Calp. Ecl. 1, 40: “avibus moliri,” Verg. G. 1, 271.—
(β).
In abl. alone, abl. with ex, or acc. with per, by artifice or stratagem, craftily, insidiously: “Marcellus insidiis interfectus est,” Cic. Att. 13, 10, 3: “per insidias quempiam interficere,” id. Dom. 23: “per insidias circumvenire,” Caes. B. G. 1, 42: “non ex insidiis, sed aperte ac palam elaborare,” Cic. Or. 12, 38: “ex insidiis invadere aliquem,” Sall. J. 113, 6.—
II. Trop., artifice, crafty device, plot, snare: “nimis insidiarum ad capiendas aures adhiberi videtur,” Cic. Or. 51, 170: “compositae orationis insidiis fidem alicujus attentare,” id. ib. 61, 208: “noctis,” Verg. G. 1, 426: “maris,” Val. Fl. 1, 416: “post obitum parentis periculo insidiarum subjectus pupillus,” Gai. Inst. 2, 181.