exsculpo

ex-sculpo ( exculp- ), psi, ptum, 3, v. a.

I.

To dig out, cut out, chisel out, carve.

A.

Lit.:

terram unde exsculpserant, fossam vocabant,

Varr. L. L. 5, § 143 Müll.: foramina arborum exsculpta digitos sex. Cato, R. R. 18, 2:

nescio quid e quercu exsculpseram, quod videretur simile simulacri,

Cic. Att. 13, 28, 2:

signum ex molari lapide,

Quint. 2, 19, 3; cf. id. 2, 4, 7.—

2.

Transf., prov.: leoni esurienti ex ore exsculpere praedam, said of any thing exceedingly difficult or daring, Lucil. ap. Non. 102, 22. —

B.

Trop., to get out, elicit, extort:

ex aliquo verum,

Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 45:

in quaestione vix exsculpsi, ut diceret,

obtained, Plaut. Cist. 2, 2, 6.—

* II.

To scratch out, erase:

hos versus Lacedaemonii exsculpserunt,

Nep. Paus. 1, 4.