I.to lie or sleep out of doors.
I. In gen. (rare but class.): “moniti Lacedaemonii, ut urbem et tecta linquerent armatique in agro excubarent,” Cic. Div. 1, 50, 112: “apes noctu deprehensae in expeditione excubant supinae,” Plin. 11, 8, 8, § 19.—
II. In partic., to lie out on guard, to keep watch, to watch.
A. Lit.: “duae semper legiones pro castris excubabant,” Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 5: “legiones in armis,” id. ib. 7, 11, 6: “legiones ad mare,” id. B. C. 3, 63, 6: “cohortes ad munitionem,” id. ib. 3, 50, 1: “legio per muros,” Verg. A. 9, 175: “excubitum in porta cohortes mittere,” Sall. J. 100, 4: “Cerberus excubat ante fores,” Tib. 1, 3, 72: “quae (naves) ad portum excubabant,” kept watch, Caes. B. C. 2, 22, 3 et saep.—Poet.: “(Cupido Chiae) Pulchris excubat in genis,” sits on the watch, lurks, Hor. C. 4, 13, 8.—Of things as subjects: “alni contra erumpentium amnium impetus riparum muro in tutela ruris excubant,” Plin. 16, 37, 67, § 173: “laurus ante limina excubat,” id. 15, 30, 39, § 127.—
B. Trop., to watch, be watchful or vigilant, to be on the alert: “cum Caesar ad opus consuetudine excubaret, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 2: “in navibus,” id. B. C. 3, 8 fin.: “excubabo vigilaboque pro vobis,” Cic. Phil. 6, 7, 18: “sapiens semper animo sic excubat, ut nihil ei improvisum accidere possit,” id. Tusc. 4, 17, 37: curam rei publicae summae defendundae jam pridem apud vos excubare, is watchful, active, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 8, 5: “omnis eorum ars urbibus excubabat,” i. e. was concerned, labored for the cities, Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 118.—Pass. impers.: “rerum, non animi pretiis excubatur,” care is exercised, Plin. 35, 7, 32, § 50.
