(v. n.v. dep.P. a.) : oscĭto, āre, v. n., and oscĭtor, āri, v. dep. (
* Inf. oscitarier, Turp. ap. Non. 322, 18; or Com. Rel. v. 15 Rib.) [oscieo], to open the mouth wide, to gape.
* Of plants, to open, unclose: oscitat in campis caput a cervice revulsum, of the plant lion's-mouth, Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 10, 396; cf. Col. 10, 260; and: (arborum) folia cotidie ad solem oscitant,turn towards the sun,Plin. 16, 24, 36, § 88.
* Of living beings, to gape, yawn: ut pandiculans oscitatur,Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 80; * Lucr. 3, 1065: clare ac sonore oscitavit,Gell. 4, 20, 8.— With acc.: quid adhuc oscitamus crapulam hesternam,August. Ver. Rel. 3.
* Trop., to be listless, drowsy, inactive (cf.: dormio. sterto): cum majores (calamitates) impendere videantur, sedetis et oscitamini,i. e. are listless, idle, negligent,Auct. Her. 4, 36, 48; cf. the foll.—Hence, oscĭtans, antis, P. a., listless, sluggish, lazy, negligent (class.): interea oscitantes opprimi,Ter. And. 1, 2, 10: quae Epicurus oscitans allucinatus est, qs. half asleep, Cic. N. D. 1, 26, 72.—Of abstract things: oscitans et dormitans sapientia,Cic. de Or. 2, 33, 144.—* Adv.: oscĭtanter, carelessly, negligently: quod ille tam solute egisset, tam leniter, tam oscitanter,Cic. Brut. 80, 277.

s. TLL