ex-cŭbo, bŭi, bĭtum, 1, v. n., to lie or sleep out of doors.
I In gen. (rare but class.): moniti Lacedaemonii, ut urbem et tecta linquerent armatique in agro excubarent, Cic. Div. 1, 50, 112: apes noctu deprehensae in expeditione excubant supinae, Plin. 11, 8, 8, § 19.—
B Trop.: Graeciam alienis sedibus, Just. 8, 4, 7, v. Fittbogen ad h. l.—Far more freq.,
II In partic., to lie out on guard , to keep watch , to watch.
A Lit.: duae semper legiones pro castris excubabant, Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 5: legiones in armis, id. ib. 7, 11, 6: legiones ad mare, id. B. C. 3, 63, 6: cohortes ad munitionem, id. ib. 3, 50, 1: legio per muros, Verg. A. 9, 175: excubitum in porta cohortes mittere, Sall. J. 100, 4: Cerberus excubat ante fores, Tib. 1, 3, 72: quae (naves) ad portum excubabant, kept watch , Caes. B. C. 2, 22, 3 et saep.—Poet.: (Cupido Chiae) Pulchris excubat in genis, sits on the watch , lurks , Hor. C. 4, 13, 8.—Of things as subjects: alni contra erumpentium amnium impetus riparum muro in tutela ruris excubant, Plin. 16, 37, 67, § 173: laurus ante limina excubat, id. 15, 30, 39, § 127.—
B Trop., to watch , be watchful or vigilant , to be on the alert : cum Caesar ad opus consuetudine excubaret, etc., Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 2: in navibus, id. B. C. 3, 8 fin. : excubabo vigilaboque pro vobis, Cic. Phil. 6, 7, 18: sapiens semper animo sic excubat, ut nihil ei improvisum accidere possit, id. Tusc. 4, 17, 37: curam rei publicae summae defendundae jam pridem apud vos excubare, is watchful , active , Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 8, 5: omnis eorum ars urbibus excubabat, i. e. was concerned , labored for the cities , Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 118.— Pass. impers. : rerum, non animi pretiis excubatur, care is exercised , Plin. 35, 7, 32, § 50.