I.v. dep. n. and a. [ve- and root ed- of edo; cf. esca], to fill one's self with food, to take food, feed, eat.
I. Lit. (class.; syn. pascor), constr. usu. with abl., rarely with acc. or absol.
(α).
With abl.: “di nec escis aut potionibus vescuntur,” Cic. N. D. 2, 23, 59: “lacte, caseo, carne,” id. Tusc. 5, 32, 90; Sall. J. 89, 7: “nasturtio,” Cic. Fin. 2, 28, 92: “piris,” Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 14: “terrae munere,” id. C. 2, 14, 10.—
(β).
With acc.: eandem vescatur dapem, Att. ap. Non. 415, 17: “insolita,” Sall. H. 3, 27 Dietsch: “caprinum jecur,” Plin. 8, 50, 76, § 203: “lauros,” Tib. 2, 5, 64: “singulas (columbas),” Phaedr. 1, 31, 11: “infirmissimos sorte ductos,” Tac. Agr. 28.—Pass.: “dare caepas vescendas,” Plin. 20, 5, 20, § 41. —
(γ).
Absol.: “pecus (sus) ad vescendum hominibus apta,” Cic. N. D. 2, 64, 160: “vescendi causā terrā marique omnia exquirere,” on account of food, to gratify the palate, Sall. C. 13, 3: “vescendi gratiā,” Dig. 28, 8, 7: “vescebatur et ante cenam,” Suet. Aug. 76: “vescere, sodes,” Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 15: “delphinus ex hominum manu vescens,” Plin. 9, 8, 8, § 26: “vesci in eā (mensā),” to take his meals, Curt. 5, 2, 14: “vesci in villā,” Tac. A. 4, 59: “in Capitolio,” Censor. 12, 2.—
II. Transf., to enjoy, make use of, use, have, = frui, uti (mostly poet.): fugimus, qui arce hac vescimur, Pac. ap. Non. p. 416, 1: “armis,” id. ib. p. 416, 2: “vitalibus auris,” Lucr. 5, 857; cf.: “aurā Aetheriā,” Verg. A. 1, 546: “variante loquelā,” Lucr. 5, 71: “praemiis patris, Att. ap. Non. p 416, 7: paratissimis voluptatibus,” Cic. Fin. 5, 20, 57.
