con-tĕgo, xi, ctum, 3, v. a., to cover, to cover up or over (freq. and class.).
I In gen.
A Lit., aliquem or aliquid aliquā re : coria centonibus, Caes. B. C. 2, 10; so, locum linteis, Liv. 10, 38, 5: capita scutis, Auct. B. Afr. 47 fin. ; cf.: caput glauco amictu, Verg. A. 12, 885: se corbe, Cic. Sest. 38, 82: spoliis contectum juvenis corpus, Liv. 8, 7, 22; cf.: pelle contectus, Suet. Ner. 29: corpus ejus (tumulus), Cic. Arch. 10, 24; cf. thus of burying: eos uno tumulo, Liv. 26, 25, 13; Curt. 7, 9, 21; Val. Fl. 5, 58: humo, Ov. H. 16, 274: corpus Galbae humili sepulturā, Tac. H. 1, 49: in privatis ejus hortis, omnia nebulā, Liv. 40, 22, 4; Suet. Ner. 31.—Rarely with in and abl.: in aliquo ramorum contexu contegi, Tac. G. 46; cf. id. H. 1, 49 supra.—
B Trop.: quidam servili habitu, alii fide clientium contecti, covered, protected , Tac. H. 3, 73.—
II In partic.
A With the access. idea of preservation (cf. condo), to preserve, keep : cum arma omnia reposita contectaque essent, Caes. B. C. 2, 14.—More freq.,
B With the access. idea of concealment, to conceal by covering, to cover, hide, conceal .
1 Of corporeal objects: eas partes corporis contexit atque abdidit, etc., Cic. Off. 1, 35, 126.—
2 Of abstr. objects: factam injuriam illi miserae, Ter. Hec. 401: libidines fronte et supercilio, non pudore et temperantiā, Cic. Prov. Cons. 4, 8: aperire et recludere contecta victricium partium vulnera, Tac. H. 2, 77: contegendis quae prima aetas et summa fortuna expeterent, id. A. 13, 13; Cod. Th. 7, 4, 21.