(adverb) : pĕdĕtemptim or pĕdĕtentim, pes-tendo; qs. by stretching out the feet; cf. Doed. Syn. 3, p. 98; hence
* Step by step, slowly (syn.: paulatim, sensim).
* Lit.: expectando excrucior. Pa. Pedetemptim, Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 32: pedetemptim et sedato nisu, Pac. ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 21, 48 (Trag. Rel. p. 91 Rib.).—Of elephants: quaerendis pedetentim vadis, in terram evasere,Liv. 21, 28 fin.
* Trop., by degrees, gradually, cautiously (class.): sensim et pedetemptim, Lucil. ap. Non. 29, 7; cf. Cic. Off. 1, 33, 120: pedetemptim et gradatim accessus,id. Fam. 9, 14, 7; cf.: paulatim et ut dicitur pedetentim interrogando,Quint. 5, 7, 20: timide et pedetemptim istuc descendunt,Cic. Quint. 16; cf.: caute pedetemptimque omnia dicere,id. Clu. 42: viam tentare, Cato ap. Charis. p. 190 P.: di bene vortant quod agas! pedetemptim tamen,Ter. Phorm. 3, 3, 19.—Comp.: pedetemptius tibi consulam, M. Aur. ap. Front. Ep. ad M. Caes. 3, 2.

s. TLL