amplexor, ātus, 1, v. dep. freq. (act. form amplexo, analog to amplecto, Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 60; Att. ap. Non. 470, 11; Lucil. ap. Prisc. p. 791 P.; Petr. 63) [amplector], to embrace, encircle (more rare than the simple verb; for the most part only anteclass., and in Cic. and eccl. Lat.).
I Lit.: aram amplexantes, Plaut. Rud. 3, 3, 33: tenebit praedam et amplexabitur, keep it fast , Vulg. Isa. 5, 29.—Esp., in love, at greeting, parting, etc., Plaut. Truc. 5, 33; id. Mil. 5, 40: mitto jam osculari atque amplexari, * Ter. Heaut. 900: inimicum meum, sic amplexabantur, sic fovebant, sic osculabantur, Cic. Fam. 1, 9: Arsinoë corpore suo puerorum corpora amplexata protexit, Just. 24, 3: amplexatus est eum, Vulg. Gen. 33, 4; 45, 14; ib. Jud. 19, 4.—
II Trop., to love , honor , cherish , esteem : Appius totum me amplexatur, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 12: otium, id. Sest. 45, 98; so id. Clu. 44; id. de Or. 3, 17; id. Fin. 4, 14: species (i. e. ἰδέας) mirifice Plato erat amplexatus, i. e. adamaverat, suas fecerat, id. Ac. 1, 9 al.: quae amplexamini, Sall. C. 52, 5.