I.to taste, to take a little of any thing (freq. and class.; cf.: libo, manduco, edo, etc.).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “cum biduum ita jejunus fuissem, ut ne aquam quidem gustarem,” Cic. Fam. 7, 26, 1: “leporem et gallinam et anserem gustare fas non putant,” Caes. B. G. 5, 11: “gustatus sanguis,” Plin. 8, 16, 19, § 52: celerius panis mandendus quam vinum gustandum, Cels. 4, 3: “gustare de potione,” Suet. Tit. 2: “herba subsalsa gustanti,” Plin. 21, 29, 103, § 175: “alypon acre gustatu ac lentum,” id. 27, 4, 7, § 22: “aliquid de sanguine,” Juv. 15, 92; 14, 85.—Prov.: “primis, ut dicitur, labris gustare physiologiam,” i. e. to have a superficial knowledge of, Cic. N. D. 1, 8, 20.—
B. In partic., to take a slight meal, to take a luncheon or whet; to eat a little: “Cretes, quorum nemo gustavit umquam cubans,” Cic. Mur. 35, 74: “post solem plerumque frigida lavabatur, deinde gustabat, dormiebatque minimum,” Plin. Ep. 3, 5, 11; Aug. ap. Suet. Aug. 76.—
II. Trop., to taste, partake of, enjoy: “gustaras civilem sanguinem vel potius exsorbueras,” Cic. Phil. 2, 29, 71: “gustare partem ullam liquidae voluptatis,” id. Fin. 1, 18, 58: “quod si ipsi haec neque attingere neque sensu nostro gustare possemus, tamen, etc.,” id. Arch. 8, 17: “praecepta,” id. de Or. 1, 32, 145: “summatim rerum causas et genera ipsa,” id. ib. 2, 36, 123: “Metrodorum illum,” i. e. heard, attended for a while, id. ib. 3, 20, 75: “partem aliquam rei publicae,” id. Fam. 12, 23, 3: “sermonem alicujus,” i. e. listen to, overhear, Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 15: “amorem vitae,” Lucr. 5, 179: “lucellum,” Hor. S. 2, 5, 82.
