suscĭpĭo (sometimes succĭpĭo; cf. Serv. Verg. A. 1, 175 and 144; Vel. Long. p. 2226 P.), cēpi, ceptum, 3, v. a. [sus, a contraction of subs, for sub; v. sub fin., and capio], qs. to take hold of in order to support, i. e. to take or catch up, to take upon one.
I To support , hold up , sustain.
A Lit.: quid loquar lapideas moles, quibus porticus suscipimus, Sen. Ep. 90, 26: theatrum fulturis ab substructionibus, Plin. Ep. 10, 38, 2: latera puteorum structurā, Pall. Aug. 9, 2: labentem domum, Sen. Ben. 6, 15, 5: balnea suscepta crepidine, supported , resting on , etc., Stat. S. 1, 3, 43: habenas, Sen. Troad. 728.—
B Trop.
1 To support , defend : famam defuncti pudoremque, Plin. Ep. 2, 4, 2: qui temere nocentis reos susciperet, Quint. 11, 1, 74: cum periculo suscepti litigatoris, id. 2, 12, 4. —
2 To take upon one, undertake , assume , begin , incur , enter upon (esp. when done voluntarily and as a favor; recipio, when done as a duty or under an obligation).
α Of actions, obligations, etc. (class. and freq.): aut inimicitias aut laborem aut sumptus suscipere nolunt, Cic. Off. 1, 9, 28: inimicitias, Ter. Hec. 231; Nep. Pelop. 1, 3; cf. Cic. Lael. 21, 77: personā susceptā viri boni, id. Clu. 36, 101: honestam rem actionemve, id. Lael. 13, 47: bellum, id. Leg. 2, 14, 34; id. Rep. 3, 23, 35; id. Off. 1, 11, 35; Caes. B. G. 1, 16; 7, 37 al.: rei publicae partem, Cic. Rep. 1, 6, 10; id. Mil. 15, 40: causam populi, id. Rep. 4, 8, 27: patrocinium improbitatis, etc., id. ib. 3, 5, 8; id. de Or. 3, 17, 63: negotium, id. Cat. 3, 2, 5: iter Asiaticum, id. Att. 4, 15, 2: omnia alter pro altero suscipiet, id. Lael. 22, 82: aes alienum amicorum, id. Off. 2, 16, 56: cum inaudita ac nefaria sacra susceperis, id. Vatin. 6, 14: porcam praecidaneam, Varr. ap. Non. 163, 21: pulvinar, Liv. 5, 52, 6: prodigia (with curare), id. 1, 20: votum, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 75; Liv. 27, 45, 8; Ov. F. 6, 246: disputationem de re publicā, Cic. Rep. 1, 7, 12; cf. id. Off. 1, 2, 7: nec enim hoc suscepi, ut, etc., tamquam magister persequerer omnia, id. Rep. 1, 24, 38: permagnum quiddam, id. de Or. 1, 22, 103: quae si suscipiamus, undertake to prove , id. Div. 2, 40, 84; so with obj.-clause : qui suscipiant, posse animum manere corpore vacantem, etc., id. Tusc. 1, 32, 78.— Rarely with dat. of reflex. pron. : legationem ad civitates sibi, Caes. B. G. 1, 3; cf.: tantum sibi auctoritatis in re publicā suscepit, ut, etc., Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 58, § 152: mihi auctoritatem patriam severitatemque suscipio, id. Cael. 16, 37.—
β Of feelings, experiences, etc., to undergo , submit to , bear , accept : morbos durumque dolorem, Lucr. 3, 460; so, dolorem, Cic. Tusc. 1, 46, 111: dolorem gemitumque, id. Vatin. 8, 19: invidiam atque offensionem apud populos, id. Verr. 2, 2, 55, § 137: odium, id. Att. 6, 1, 25: molestiam, id. Caecin. 6, 17.—With in and acc.: miserius qui suscipit in se scelus quam si qui alterius facinus subire cogitur, i. e. wilfully incurs guilt , Cic. Phil. 11, 4, 9; cf.: si esset inventus, qui in se suscipere istius culpam crimenque cuperet, id. Verr. 2, 4, 42, § 91: negotiatoribus Claudius certa lucra proposuit, suscepto in se damno, si cui, etc., Suet. Claud. 18. —
II To take , catch , take up , receive.
A In gen. (so only poet. and in post-Aug. prose): sol aeternam suscepit lampada mundi, to catch up , Lucr. 5, 402: dominam ruentem, Verg. A. 11, 806: suscipiunt famulae, id. ib. 4, 391: cruorem pateris, id. ib. 6, 249; cf.: cava suscepto flumine palma sat est, Prop. 4 (5), 9, 36 (al. succepto): ignem foliis, Verg. A. 1, 175. —
B In partic.
1 To take up a new-born child from the ground; hence, to acknowledge , recognize , bring up as one’s own (class.; cf. tollo): simul atque editi in lucem et suscepti sumus, Cic. Tusc. 3, 1, 2: puerum, Ter. And. 401: haec ad te die natali meo scripsi, quo utinam susceptus non essem! Cic. Att. 11, 9, 3.—
b In gen., to get , beget , or bear children: filia, quam ex te suscepi, Plaut. Ep. 4, 1, 34: filiam ex uxore, Ter. Phorm. 943: liberos ex libertini filiā, Cic. Phil. 3, 6, 17; cf. Ter. Phorm. 967: inde filiam, id. ib. 1007: susceperas liberos non solum tibi, sed etiam patriae, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 69, § 161: si qua mihi de te suscepta fuisset Ante fugam suboles, Verg. A. 4, 327; Vulg. Judic. 11, 2.—
2 To take , receive , as a citizen, under one's protection, as a pupil, etc. (rare but class.): Cato cum esset Tusculi natus, in populi Romani civitatem susceptus est, Cic. Leg. 2, 2, 5: suscipe me totum, Vatin. ap. Cic. Fam. 5, 9, 1: suscepi candidatum, Plin. Ep. 6, 6, 9: susceptos a se discipulos, Quint. 2, 5, 1; 11, 1, 55: pancratiasten docendum, id. 2, 8, 13: aliquos erudiendos, id. 2, 8, 1.—
3 To receive , get : pecuniam, Dig. 22, 3, 25: pretio, quod dominus suscepit, Ap. Met. 8, 25, 24.—
C Trop.: suscepit vita hominum consuetudoque communis, ut, etc., has allowed , admitted , Cic. N. D. 2, 24, 62.—
2 To take up , resume , continue a speech, answer : suscipit Stolo: Tu, inquit, invides, etc., Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 24; cf.: ad quod ... sermonem suscipit Polus, Quint. 2, 15, 28; Verg. A. 6, 723; Ap. Met. 4, 16, 21; 9, 22, 1. —Hence, P. a. as subst.: susceptum , i, n., an undertaking : susceptaque magna labore Crescere difficili, Ov. M. 11, 200.