ăpiscor, aptus, 3, v. dep. [apo] (class., but more rare than the compd. adipiscor; in the post-Aug. per. most freq. in Tac.), orig., to reach after something, in order to take, seize, or get possession of it (syn.: peto, sequor, adquiro, attingo); hence, in gen.,
I To pursue ( with effort , zeal , etc.): sine me hominem apisci, Plaut. Ep. 5, 2, 3.—And as the result of the pursuit,
II To take , seize upon : etenim nullo cessabant tempore apisci Ex aliis alios avidi contagia morbi, Lucr. 6, 1235.—
III To reach , attain to , get , gain , acquire ( by effort , trouble , etc.; cf. adipiscor), both lit. and trop.: quod ego objectans vitam bellando aptus sum, Pac. ap. Non. p. 234, 25: hereditatem, Plaut. Capt. 4, 1, 8: cupere aliquid apisci, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 74, 30; so id. ib. p. 74, 23: aliquem, Sisenn. ap. Non. p. 68, 25: maris apiscendi causā, Cic. Att. 8, 14 fin. : laudem, Sulp. ap. Cic. Fam. 4, 5 fin. : aliquid animus praegestit apisci, Cat. 64, 145: spes apiscendi summi honoris, Liv. 4, 3: jus, Tac. A. 6, 3: summa apiscendi libido, id. ib. 4, 1: qui id flaminum apisceretur, id. ib. 4, 16: apiscendae potentiae properi, id. ib. 4, 59: cujus (artis) apiscendae otium habuit, id. ib. 6, 26 al.— Once in Tacitus with gen. like the Gr. τυγχάνειν τινός: dominationis, A. 6, 45.— Poet., to reach something in mind , i. e. to perceive , understand : Nec ratione animi quam quisquam possit apisci, Lucr. 1, 448.☞ Apiscendus, pass. , Manil. 3, 145; Tac. A. 3, 31; 13, 20 al.; cf. adipiscor.