ăd-ĕdo, ēdi, ēsum (less correctly, adessum), 3, v. a. (adest = adedit, Luc. 6, 265; cf. ĕdo), to begin to eat, to bite, to nibble at, to gnaw, etc.—As verb finite very rare, and mostly poet.; not found in prose of Cic.
I Prop.: angues duo ex occulto allapsi adedere jecur, Liv. 25, 16, 2; so, adeso jecinore, Val. Max. 1, 6, 8: favos, Verg. G. 4, 242.—Hence metaph. of fire: cum me supremus adederit ignis, Ov. Am. 1, 15, 41: flamma plurima postibus haesit adesis, Verg. A. 9, 537.—
II In an enlarged sense (as a consequence of a continued biting, gnawing, etc.; and hence only in the perf. or part. pass.; cf.: accīdo, absumo, abrumpo), to eat up , to consume entirely : frumento adeso, quod ex areis in oppidum portatum est, Sisenn. ap. Non. 70, 32; so, extis adesis, Liv. 1, 7, 13; pisces ex parte adesi, Quint. 6, 3, 90: and metaph., to use up , to consume , waste (as money, strength, etc.): non adesa jam, sed abundante etiam pecunia, Cic. Quint. 12: adesis fortunis omnibus, Tac. A. 13, 21: bona adesa, id. H. 1, 4: adesus cladibus Asdrubal, Sil. 13, 680.
III —Hence, ădēsus , a, um, P. a., eaten , gnawed; hence poet., worn away , esp. by water : adesi lapides, smooth , polished , Hor. C. 3, 29, 36 (after Theocr. 22, 49; οὓς ποταμὸς περιέξεσε): scopulus, Ov. H. 10, 26: sale durus adeso caseus, poet. for sale adesus caseus , Verg. M. 98.