dē-fervesco, fervi and ferbui (defervi, Ter. Ad. 152; Cic. Clu. 39, 108; id. Or. 30, 107; Cato R. R. 96, 1; Plin. Ep. 9, 16, 2 al.: deferbui, Cic. Cael. 18, 43; 31, 77; Col. 12, 20, 2 et saep.), 3, v. n. (post-Aug.), to cease boiling, leave off raging.
I Lit.: ubi lupinus deferverit, Cato R. R. 96: aestus, Varr. R. R. 2, 2, 11: dum musteus fructus defervescat, Col. 9, 15 fin. ; cf.: deferbuit mustum, id. 12, 38, 3; 12, 20, 2: ubi caelum enituit et deferbuit mare, Gell. 19, 1, 7.—
II Trop.
A Of the fire of passion, to cease raging, to cool down, to be allayed, assuaged (a favorite expression of Cic.; elsewh. rare): ut ulciscendi vim differant in tempus aliud, dum defervescat ira: defervescere autem certe significat ardorem animi invita ratione excitatum, Cic. Tusc. 4, 36 fin. : sperabam jam defervisse adolescentiam, Ter. Ad. 152; cf.: cum adolescentiae cupiditates defervissent, Cic. Cael. 18, 43; id. Or. 30, 107: quasi deferverat oratio, id. Brut. 91 fin. : hominum studia defervisse, id. Clu. 39: dum defervescat haec gratulatio, id. Fam. 9, 2, 4; Plin. Ep. 9, 13, 4: regis indignatio deferbuerat, Vulg. Esth. 2, 1.—
B (Fig. from the fermenting of wine.) To become clarified, clear : novi versiculi ut primum videbuntur defervisse, Plin. Ep. 9, 16 fin.