oppĕto (obp-), īvi and ii, ītum, 3, v. a. [ob-peto],
I to go to meet , to encounter (an evil, esp. death; class.; syn.: obeo, occumbo, intereo): malam pestem, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 38 (Trag. v. 15 Vahl.); so, pestem, Plaut. As. 1, 1, 7—Esp.: mortem, to encounter death , for to perish , die (only of a violent or unnatural death), Enn. ap. Non. 507, 19 (Trag. v. 235 Vahl.): cum milites pro salute populi Romani mortem oppetiverint, Cic. Phil. 14, 14, 38; cf.: clarae mortes pro patriā oppetitae, id. Tusc. 1, 49, 116: poenas superbiae, to suffer for one's pride , Phaedr. 3, 16, 2.—
II In partic., pregn. for oppetere mortem, to perish , die (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): quīs ante ora patrum Trojae sub moenibus altis Contigit oppetere, Verg. A. 1, 96; 11, 268; 12, 543: eodem mari, Tac. A. 2, 24: non senio, sed fame, Plin. 10, 3, 4, § 15: gloriosā morte, to die a glorious death , Prud. στεφ. 10, 65.