I. Act.
A. Lit., to put, place, or thrust into the bosom (post-class.): “sicine vacuus et otiosus insinuatis manibus ambulabis,” with folded arms, App. M. 9, p. 219, 23: “manum in sinum,” Tert. Res. Carn. 28.—
B. To bring in by windings or turnings, to insinuate into; to cause a person or thing to get to a place by windings or turnings; and, in gen., to cause to arrive at or get to a place.
1. In gen.: “ratem terris,” to land, Avien. Arat. 312: “suum aestum per saepta domorum,” Lucr. 6, 860: “Romani quacumque data intervalla essent, insinuabant ordines suos,” pushed forward their files into the open spaces of the enemy, Liv. 44, 41.—Poet.: “et (tibi) omni tempore tam faciles insinuentur opes,” come to you, Prop. 3, 9 (4, 8), 28.—
2. Esp., with se, to wind one's way into, to steal into; to insinuate or ingratiate one's self: “se inter equitum turmas,” Caes. B. G. 4, 33: “quā te insinuaveris, retro via repetenda,” Liv. 9, 2, 8: “cum (Romanus) insinuasset se inter corpus armaque,” id. 7, 10, 10: “qua se inter valles flumen insinuat,” winds along, id. 32, 31, 1: “Tigris Persico mari se insinuat,” Curt. 5, 3.—
C. Trop., to make favorably known to, to introduce, recommend.
1. In gen.: “Augusto insinuatus est,” Suet. Gramm. 21; id. Calig. 10; id. Oth. 2: “hoc est quod penitus illos animo Caesaris insinuavit,” Plin. Pan. 62; cf.: “vitam moresque feris mentibus,” Aur. Vict. de Orig. Gent. 3, 3.—
2. Esp., reflex. with se, etc.
(α).
With ad or in and acc.: “his nos rebus insinuabimus ad causam,” will make our way to, get to, Auct. Her. 1, 6, 10: “se in antiquam philosophiam,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 12, 34: “se ad aliquam,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 1, 27: “se in familiaritatem alicujus,” Cic. Caecin. 5, 13: “se in amicitiam cum aliquo,” Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 94; Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 68, § 157: “se in forum,” id. Phil. 5, 3, 8: “se in familiarem usum,” Liv. 40, 21, 11: “se in eorum sermonem,” Cic. Agr. 2, 5, 12.—
(β).
Absol.: “callidus ille ne se insinuet, studiose cavendum est,” Cic. Lael. 26, 99: “eadem qua te insinuaveris via retro repetenda est,” Liv. 9, 2, 8: “celeriter dato loco cum se insinuasset, Auct. B. Alex. 52, 2: praefecto regis se,” Just. 5, 2, 5: “plebi se,” Liv. 3, 15, 2.—
3. To introduce to, initiate into: “adest tibi dies, quo per istas meas manus piissimis sacrorum arcanis insinueris,” App. M. 11, p. 268.—
4. To make known, publish (post-class.): “voluntatem suam heredibus,” Dig. 32, 1, 11, § 2; Rutil. Nam. 1, 590.—
II. Neutr., to wind or steal into, to make one's way or get into, to penetrate, enter, reach, arrive at; constr. with in and acc. or dat.: inde in amicitiam insinuavit cum matre et mecum simul. Blanditiis, etc., Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 93: “penitus insinuare in causam,” to penetrate thoroughly into, to acquire a complete knowledge of, Cic. de Or. 2, 35, 149; cf.: “ad causam,” Auct. Her. 1, 6, 10: “in ipsius consuetudinem insinuabo,” Cic. Fam. 4, 13, 6: “novus per pectora cunctis Insinuat pavor,” Verg. A. 2, 229: “Italiaeque urbes dextram insinuantis in undam,” winding, reaching to, Manil. 4, 602: et blandiri suppliciter et subtiliter insinuare eis, a quibus, etc., i. e. to steal into favor with, etc., Cic. de Or. 1, 20, 90.