praecerpo

prae-cerpo ( praecarpo, Oppius ap. Macr. S. 2, 15), psi, ptum, 3, v. a. [carpo].

I.

To pluck, break off, or gather before, or before the time ( poet. and in post-Aug. prose):

messes,

Ov. H. 20, 143:

germinum tenera,

Plin. 18, 19, 49, § 177: mala citrea (opp. maturescere), Oppius ap. Macr. l. l. —

B.

Trop., to pluck beforehand; hence, to take away, lessen, diminish (class.):

non praecerpo fructum officii tui,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 37, § 80:

purpurae decus praecerptum praefloratumque,

Plin. Pan. 58 fin.:

gratiam novitatis,

id. Ep. 5, 20, 8.—

* II.

To pluck out in front:

jubas,

Stat. Th. 9, 193. —

* III.

To make extracts from:

Aristotelis libros,

Gell. 2, 30, 11.