I.per synaeresin as one syll., Lucr. 1, 44; Cat. 64, 151; Verg. G. 2, 233; id. A. 7, 262; 10, 378; Hor. Ep. 1, 12, 24; Ov. M. 15, 354 et saep.; praes. subj., desiet, Cato R. R. 8; perf., defuerunt, trisyl., Ov. M. 6, 585; fut. inf., commonly defuturum esse, as Cic. Div. in Caecil. 1, 2, etc.; “also defore,” id. Fam. 13, 63; Caes. B. G. 5, 56; Sil. 9, 248; imperf. subj., deforent, Ambros. Hexaem. 3, 13), v. n., to be away, be absent; to fail, be wanting (for syn. cf.: absum, deficio, descisco, negligo; freq. in all periods).
I. In gen.
(α).
Absol.: “non ratio, verum argentum deerat,” Ter. Ph. 2, 1, 69: “frigore enim desunt ignes ventique calore Deficiunt,” Lucr. 6, 360: cf. id. 3, 455; Cato R. R. 8: “omnia deerant, quae, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 4, 29 fin.: “semper paullum ad summam felicitatem defuisse,” id. ib. 6, 43, 5: “ibi numquam causas seditionum et certaminis defore,” Liv. 45, 18: “quod non desit habentem, etc.,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 52 et saep.: “non desunt qui, for sunt qui,” Quint. 4, 5, 11; 8, 3, 85; Plin. 2, 109, 112, § 248.—
(β).
With dat. (so most freq.): “metuo mihi in monendo ne defuerit oratio,” Plaut. Bac. 1, 1, 3 and 4: “cui nihil desit, quod, etc.,” Cic. Rep. 1, 17; cf. id. Lael. 14, 51: “sive deest naturae quippiam, sive abundat atque affluit,” id. Div. 1, 29, 61: “quantum alteri sententiae deesset animi, tantum alteri superesse,” Caes. B. C. 2, 31; so, “opp. superesse,” Cic. Fam. 13, 63; cf. “opp. superare,” Sall. C. 20, 11: “neu desint epulis rosae,” Hor. Od. 1, 36, 15; id. Ep. 1, 1, 58 et saep.: “hoc unum ad pristinam fortunam Caesari defuit,” Caes. B. G. 4, 26 fin.; cf. id. B. C. 3, 2, 2; 3, 96, 2. —
(γ).
With in: “ut neque in Antonio deesset hic ornatus orationis, neque in Crasso redundaret,” Cic. de Or. 3, 4 fin.; id. Rep. 2, 33: “in C. Laenio commendando,” id. Fam. 13, 63 al.—
(δ).
With inf. (poet. and in postAug. prose): “et mihi non desunt turpes pendere corollae,” Prop. 1, 16, 7; Sil. 6, 10; Tac. H. 4, 1 al.—(ε) With quominus: “duas sibi res, quominus in vulgus et in foro diceret, defuisse,” Cic. Rep. 3, 30 fin. (ap. Non. 262, 23); Tac. A. 14, 39.—(ζ) With quin: “nihil contumeliarum defuit, quin subiret,” Suet. Ner. 45.—(η) With ut: “non defuit, ut, etc.,” Capitol. Gord. III. 31.—
II. Pregn., to fail, be wanting in one's duty, as in rendering assistance, etc.; not to assist or serve, to desert one, to neglect a person or thing.
(α).
With dat.: “tantum enitor, ut neque amicis neque etiam alienioribus opera, consilio, labore desim,” Cic. Fam. 1, 9, 17; cf. id. Mur. 4 fin.: “ne tibi desis,” that you be not wanting to yourself, neglect not your own advantage, id. Rosc. Am. 36, 104; id. Fam. 5, 12, 2; cf. Hor. S. 1, 9, 56; 2, 1, 17; 1, 4, 134: “senatu reique publicae,” Caes. B. C. 1, 1, 3 sq.: “communi saluti nulla in re,” id. B. G. 5, 33, 2: “Timotheo de fama dimicanti,” Nep. Timoth. 4, 3: “huic rei,” Caes. B. C. 3, 93, 2: “negotio,” id. ib. 2, 41, 3: “decori vestro,” Cic. Rep. 6, 24: “officio et dignitati meae,” id. Att. 7, 17, 4; Liv. 3, 50: “tempori,” id. 21, 27; cf.: “occasioni temporis,” Caes. B. C. 3, 79 et saep.—
(β).
Without dat.: “non deest reipublicae consilium ... nos, nos, dico aperte, consules desumus,” Cic. Cat. 1, 1 fin.; id. Rep. 3, 21: “qui non deerat in causis,” id. Brut. 34, 130: “nec deerat Ptolemaeus,” Tac. H. 1, 22 fin.—