vestigo

ve-stīgo, no perf. and sup., āre, 1, v. a. [etym. dub.; perh. Sanscr. vahis (bahis), out, and stigh-, to climb; cf. Gr. stichos, a row, etc.; Angl. -Sax. stīgan; Germ. steigen, to climb].

I.

Prop., to follow in the track of; to track, trace out (cf.: rimor, indago, scrutor): germana soror, errare videbar, Tardaque vestigare et quaerere te, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 20, 40 (Ann. v. 43 Vahl.):

feras vestigat (sc. canis),

Sen. Thyest. 496.—With abl.:

fertur (sc. tigris) praeceps, odore vestigans (sc. raptorem),

Plin. 8, 18, 25, § 66. —

II.

Transf.

A.

To find out by tracing, to trace out, discover.

1.

With abl.:

perfugas et fugitivos, quos inquirendo vestigare potuerint, reddidisse,

Liv. 31, 19, 2:

(cervi) vestigant cavernas (serpentium),

Plin. 8, 32, 50, § 118:

omnis enim jacens piscis magis naribus escam, quam oculis, vestigat,

Col. 8, 17, 14.—

2.

Absol.:

dimissis deinde per agros, qui vestigarent,

Liv. 32, 26, 13 dub.; cf. Weissenb. ad loc.—

B.

To search after; to seek out:

ceterum Alexander, quam regionem Dareus petisset, omni curā vestigans, tamen explorare non poterat,

Curt. 4, 6, 5:

adeo sicca lacuna, ut vestigantium sitim falleret,

id. 4, 16, 14:

equum vestigari jubet,

id. 6, 5, 19:

ergo alte vestiga (sc. ramum) oculis, riteque repertum Carpe manu,

Verg. A. 6, 145.—

III.

Trop.

A.

To inquire into, investigate (class.).

1.

In simple constr.:

causas rerum,

Cic. de Or. 2, 39, 166.—

2.

With abl.:

quā (sc. ratione) omnes illorum conatūs vestigare,

Cic. Verr. 1, 16, 48.—

3.

With cum:

quod cum desidiosā delectatione vestiges,

Cic. de Or. 3, 23, 88.—

B.

To discover, find out:

grave imperium regum nihil inexploratum, quod vestigari volunt, efficit,

Liv. 39, 51, 6.