ex-sculpo (exculp-), psi, ptum, 3, v. a.
I To dig out , cut out , chisel out , carve.
A Lit.: terram unde exsculpserant, fossam vocabant, Varr. L. L. 5, § 143 Müll.: foramina arborum exsculpta digitos sex. Cato R. R. 18, 2: nescio quid e quercu exsculpseram, quod videretur simile simulacri, Cic. Att. 13, 28, 2: signum ex molari lapide, Quint. 2, 19, 3; cf. id. 2, 4, 7.—
2 Transf., prov.: leoni esurienti ex ore exsculpere praedam, said of any thing exceedingly difficult or daring, Lucil. ap. Non. 102, 22. —
B Trop., to get out , elicit , extort : ex aliquo verum, Ter. Eun. 712: in quaestione vix exsculpsi, ut diceret, obtained , Plaut. Cist. 2, 2, 6.—*
II To scratch out , erase : hos versus Lacedaemonii exsculpserunt, Nep. Paus. 1, 4.