delitesco

dē-lĭtesco, tŭi, 3, v. inch. n. [latesco], to hide away, conceal one's self; to lie hid, to lurk (class.).

I.

Lit.:

bestiae in cubilibus delitescunt,

Cic. N. D. 2, 49 fin.; cf.: hostes noctu in silvis delituerant, * Caes. B. G. 4, 32, 4:

caelum,

Stat. Silv. 3, 1, 71:

in ulva,

Verg. A. 2, 136:

sub praesepibus vipera,

Verg. G. 3, 417:

silvā,

Ov. M. 4, 340; cf.:

privato loco,

id. Tr. 3, 1, 80:

sinu ancillae,

id. Am. 3, 1, 56 al.:

ut eo mitteret amicos, qui delitescerent, deinde repente prosilirent,

Cic. Cael. 25 fin.—Absol.:

delituit mala,

Plaut. Rud. 2, 5, 9.—

B.

Transf., of things:

stella cursum conflcit, vespertinis temporibus delitescendo,

Cic. N. D. 2, 20, 52.—Of a letter:

ancillae sinu,

Ov. Am. 3, 1, 56.—

II.

Trop., to skulk behind, shelter one's self under:

in alicujus auctoritate delitesceret,

Cic. Ac. 2, 5, 15; so,

in ista calumnia,

id. Caecin. 21 fin.; cf. ib. 23 fin.:

in dolo malo, id. Tull. § 33: umbrā magni nominis,

Quint. 12, 10, 15; id. 10, 5, 10 Zumpt N. cr.