findo, fĭdi, fissum, 3, v. a. [root Sanscr. bhid-, to cleave; Germ. beissen; Engl. bite], to cleave, split, part, separate, divide (class.; cf.: scindo, seco, caedo).
I Lit.: hoc enim quasi rostro finditur Fibrenus et divisus aequaliter in duas partes latera haec alluit, Cic. Leg. 2, 3, 6; cf.: inimicam findite rostris Hanc terram, Verg. A. 10, 295: patrios findere sarculo agros, Hor. C. 1, 1, 11: terras vomere, Ov. A. A. 2, 671: mare carinā, Prop. 3, 9 (4, 8), 35: Assaraci tellus, quam ... Findunt Scamandri flumina, Hor. Epod. 13, 14: hiulca siti findit Canis aestifer arva, Verg. G. 2, 353; cf.: arentes cum findit Sirius agros, Tib. 1, 7, 21: rubra Canicula findet Statuas, Hor. S. 2, 5, 39: os, Cels. 8, 4 med. ; cf. id. 8, 3 fin. : specularis lapis finditur in quamlibet tenues crustas, Plin. 36, 22, 45, § 160; cf. Quint. 11, 3, 21: hic locus est, partes ubi se via findit in ambas, Verg. A. 6, 540; id. G. 2, 78; Ov. M. 4, 65.—
b In part. perf. : fissa ferarum ungula, Lucr. 4, 680: ungulae equi, Suet. Caes. 61: lingua in partes duas, Ov. M. 4, 585: lignum, Verg. A. 9, 413: ferulae, Cels. 8, 10; cf. id. 8, 3 fin. —
B Mid., to split , burst (poet. and very rare): turgescit bilis: findor, I am ready to burst with rage , Pers. 3, 8: cor meum et cerebrum finditur, Plaut. Bacch. 2, 4, 17: Marsis finduntur cantibus angues, Ov. Med. fac. 39.—
II Trop., to divide (poet. and very seldom): Idus sunt agendae, Qui dies mensem Veneris marinae Findit Aprilem, Hor. C. 4, 11, 16: fissa voluntas, Prud. Psych. 760.
V —Hence, fissum , i, n., a cleft , slit , fissure.
A In gen. (very rare): postquam implevisti fusti fissorum caput, Plaut. Aul. 3, 4, 7: ad ani fissa, Cels. 5, 20, 5.—
B Esp., in the lang. of augurs, of the divided liver: jecorum, Cic. Div. 1, 52, 118; cf.: fissum in exitis, id. ib. 1, 10, 16; jecoris, id. N. D. 3, 6, 14: familiare et vitale, id. Div. 2, 13, 32.