I.a. [sedeo].
I. Neutr., to sit, stay, remain, abide anywhere (only poet.): “servi ne obsideant, liberis ut sit locus,” Plaut. Poen. prol. 23: “domi obsidere,” Ter. Ad. 4, 6, 6: “in limine,” Val. Fl. 2, 237.—
II. Act., to sit at, on, or in, to remain on or in, to haunt, inhabit, frequent a place.
A. In gen.: “aram,” Plaut. Rud. 3, 3, 36: “ranae stagna et rivos obsident,” frequent marshes, Plin. 11, 18, 19, § 62: “obsedit limina bubo,” Sil. 8, 636: “Apollo umbilicum terrarum obsidet,” Cic. Div. 2, 56.—
B. In partic.
1. Milit. t. t., to sit down before, to hem in, beset, besiege, invest, blockade a place (cf. oppugno): “cum omnes aditus armati obsiderent,” Cic. Phil. 2, 35, 89: “Curio Uticam obsidere instituit,” Caes. B. C. 2, 36: “consiliis ab oppugnandā urbe ad obsidendam versis,” Liv. 2, 11: “propius inopiam erant obsidentes quam obsessi,” id. 25, 11: “ut Carthaginem crederent extemplo Scipionem obsessurum,” id. 30, 7: “totam Italiam,” Cic. Agr. 2, 28, 75: “vias,” Caes. B. G. 3, 23: “vallis obsessa,” Verg. A. 10, 120: “egregias Lateranorum aedīs,” Juv. 10, 17.—
2. To occupy, fill, possess: “corporibus omnis obsidetur locus,” is filled, Cic. N. D. 1, 23, 65: “senatum armis,” id. Phil. 7, 5, 15: “palus obsessa salictis,” full of osier-thickets, Ov. M. 11, 363: “Trachasque obsessa palude,” i. e. surrounded, id. ib. 15, 717.—
b. Trop., to occupy, possess, take possession of: “alicujus animum,” Just. 42, 4, 21: “qui meum tempus obsideret,” who took up my time, Cic. Verr. 1, 2, 6; id. Or. 62, 210: “cum obsideri aures a fratre cerneret,” that they were continually besieged by his brother, Liv. 40, 20 fin.—
3. To have one's eye upon, to watch closely, be on the look-out for: “jacere humi ... ad obsidendum stuprum,” Cic. Cat. 1, 10, 26: “rostra,” id. Fl. 24, 57.