I.inf. parag. venarier, Lucr. 5, 1248; gen. plur. part. venantum, Verg. A. 9, 551 al.), 1, v. dep. n. and a., to hunt, chase (cf.: capto, aucupor).
I. Neutr.: “qui venari solent,” Cic. Fam. 2, 11, 2: “quo me in silvam venatum vocas?” Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 82: “venatum in nemus ire parant,” Verg. A. 4, 117: “canum alacritas in venando,” Cic. N. D. 2, 63, 158: “tigris venatur,” Val. Fl. 1, 493: “tu praecipue curvis venare theatris,” Ov. A. A. 1, 89.—Prov.: “stultitia est venatum ducere invitas canes,” Plaut. Stich. 1, 2, 82: “piscari in aëre, Venari autem jaculo in medio mari,” id. As. 1, 1, 87.—Part. as subst.: “voces venantum,” of hunters, Phaedr. 1, 12, 7.—
II. Act.: “i modo, venare leporem,” Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 81: “canibus leporem, dammas,” Verg. G. 3, 410: “vespae muscas grandiores venantur,” Plin. 11, 21, 24, § 72: “conchae hiantes venantur cibum,” id. 32, 11, 54, § 154: “fugientes cum mari pisces,” id. 16, 1, 1, § 3.—
B. Trop., to hunt or seek after, to pursue a thing (mostly poet.): “laudem modestiae,” Auct. Her. 4, 3, 5: “suffragia ventosae plebis,” Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 37: “viduas avaras frustis et pomis,” id. ib. 1, 1, 78: “viros oculis (filia),” Phaedr. 4, 5, 4; cf.: “amores,” Ov. Med. Fac. 27.—Pass., Enn. Trag. 335; Prisc. p. 734 P.
