(v. a.P. a.adv.) : tergeo or less freq. tergo, si, sum, 2 or 3 (v. Neue, Formenl. 2, 423 sq.;
* Part. perf. tertus, Varr. ap. Non. 179, 7 and 8), v. a. for stergo; akin to stringo; Gr. στραγγεύω, to twist, to rub off, wipe off, wipe dry, wipe clean, cleanse.
* Lit. (class.; syn. verro): numquam concessavimus Lavari aut fricari aut tergeri aut ornari,Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 10: mantelium, ubi manus terguntur, Varr L. L. 6, § 85 Müll.; so, frontem sudario,Quint. 6, 3, 60: nares in adversum,id. 11, 3, 121: fossas,to dry,Cato, R. R. 2, 4; Col. 2, 21, 3: aequatam (mensam) mentae tersere virentes,Ov. M. 8, 663: pars leves clipeos et spicula lucida tergent,rub off, polish, burnish,Verg. A. 7, 626: arma,Liv. 26, 51, 4: leve argentum, vasa aspera,Juv. 14, 62: manuque simul velut lacrimantia tersit Lumina,Ov. M. 13, 132: oculos pedibus,Plin. 11, 48, 108, § 258. — Poet.: aridus unde aures terget sonus ille,grates upon,Lucr. 6, 119: nubila caeli (Aurora),to scatter,Sil. 16, 136: tergere palatum,to tickle the palate,Hor. S. 2, 2, 24. — Absol.: qui tractant ista, qui tergunt, qui ungunt, qui verrunt, * Cic. Par. 5, 2, 37: si QVIS TERGERE ORNARE REFICERR VOLET (sc. aram),Inscr. Orell. 2489.
* Trop. (very rare): librum,i. e. to improve, amend,Mart. 6, 1, 3: scelus,to expiate,Sen. Herc. Oet. 907.—Hence, tersus, a, um, P. a., wiped off, i. e. clean, neat (not in Cic.).
* Lit.: (mulier) lauta, tersa, ornata, etc.,Plaut. Stich. 5, 5, 4; cf id. Pa. 1, 2, 31; cf.: alii sunt circumtonsi et tersi atque unctuli, Varr. ap Non. 179, 8: plantae,Ov. M. 2, 736: tersum diem pro sereno dictum ab antiquis,Fest. p. 363 Müll.
* Trop., pure, correct, nice, neat, terse: judicium acre tersumque. Quint. 12, 10, 20: tersum ac limatum esse oportet quod libris dedicatur,id. 12, 10, 50: elegiae tersus atque elegans auctor,id. 10, 1, 93; of in comp.: multo est tersior ac purus magis (Horatius),id. 10, 1, 94: opus tersum, molle, jucundum,Plin. Ep. 9, 22, 2; so, praefationes tersae, graciles, dulces,id. ib. 2, 3, 1.—Sup.: vir in judicio litterarum tersissimus,Stat. S. 2 praef.—No adv.