verb transitive

dif-findo

3rd PP diffĭdi · 4th PP diffissum

(also diffīsum), 3

to cleave asunder, to divide

v. a., to cleave asunder, to divide (rare but class.).

••

Lit.: vitem mediam per medullam, Cato R. R. 41, 2: malos, Enn. ap. Non. 114, 7 (Ann. v. 389 ed. Vahl., where the read. is, as in Non., defindunt): ramum, Varr. R. R. 1, 40 fin.: terram, Lucr. 6, 584: saxum, Cic. Div. 1, 13 fin.: semen compressu suo (terra), id. de Sen. 15, 51: natem, Hor. S. 1, 8, 47: tempora plumbo, Verg. A. 9, 589; Suet. Gram. 11 et saep.— Poet.: urbium portas muneribus, i. e. to open, Hor. C. 3, 16, 13.—

by extension •

Transf., with an abstr. object: conjunctionem duplicem in longitudinem, Cic. Univ. 7.—

figuratively

I cannot cut off aught of this; I can refute; deny no part of it •

In gen.: equidem nihil hinc diffindere possum, I cannot cut off aught of this, i. e. I can refute or deny no part of it, Hor. S. 2, 1, 79: cuneus rigentem servi tenacitatem violenter diffinderet, to break by a bribe, App. M. 9, p. 225.—Esp. freq.,

to break off; to put off to the following day, to defer

Diem, jurid. t. t., lit., to break off a matter, i. e. to put off to the following day, to defer (cf. differre), Dig. 2, 11, 2, § 3: triste omen diem diffidit, Liv. 9, 38, 15; Gell. 14, 2, 11.—*

by extension •

Transf.: diem somno, to divide by taking a nap, Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 5.

Perseus ID: n13872 Key: diffindo