tergeo or less freq. tergo, si, sum, 2 or 3 (v. Neue, Formenl. 2, 423 sq.; part. perf. tertus, Varr. ap. Non. 179, 7 and 8), v. a. [for stergo; akin to stringo; Gr. στραγγεύω, to twist], to rub off, wipe off, wipe dry, wipe clean, cleanse.
I Lit. (class.; syn. verro): numquam concessavimus Lavari aut fricari aut tergeri aut ornari, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 10: mantelium, ubi manus terguntur, Varr L. L. 6, § 85 Müll.; so, frontem sudario, Quint. 6, 3, 60: nares in adversum, id. 11, 3, 121: fossas, to dry , Cato R. R. 2, 4; Col. 2, 21, 3: aequatam (mensam) mentae tersere virentes, Ov. M. 8, 663: pars leves clipeos et spicula lucida tergent, rub off , polish , burnish , Verg. A. 7, 626: arma, Liv. 26, 51, 4: leve argentum, vasa aspera, Juv. 14, 62: manuque simul velut lacrimantia tersit Lumina, Ov. M. 13, 132: oculos pedibus, Plin. 11, 48, 108, § 258. — Poet.: aridus unde aures terget sonus ille, grates upon , Lucr. 6, 119: nubila caeli (Aurora), to scatter , Sil. 16, 136: tergere palatum, to tickle the palate , Hor. S. 2, 2, 24. — Absol. : qui tractant ista, qui tergunt, qui ungunt, qui verrunt, * Cic. Par. 5, 2, 37: si QVIS TERGERE ORNARE REFICERE VOLET (sc. aram), Inscr. Orell. 2489.—
II Trop. (very rare): librum, i. e. to improve , amend , Mart. 6, 1, 3: scelus, to expiate , Sen. Herc. Oet. 907.
III —Hence, tersus , a, um, P. a., wiped off , i. e. clean , neat (not in Cic.).
A Lit.: (mulier) lauta, tersa, ornata, etc., Plaut. Stich. 5, 5, 4; cf id. Ps. 1, 2, 31; cf.: alii sunt circumtonsi et tersi atque unctuli, Varr. ap Non. 179, 8: plantae, Ov. M. 2, 736: tersum diem pro sereno dictum ab antiquis, Fest. p. 363 Müll. —
B Trop., pure , correct , nice , neat , terse : judicium acre tersumque. Quint. 12, 10, 20: tersum ac limatum esse oportet quod libris dedicatur, id. 12, 10, 50: elegiae tersus atque elegans auctor, id. 10, 1, 93; of in comp. : multo est tersior ac purus magis (Horatius), id. 10, 1, 94: opus tersum, molle, jucundum, Plin. Ep. 9, 22, 2; so, praefationes tersae, graciles, dulces, id. ib. 2, 3, 1.— Sup. : vir in judicio litterarum tersissimus, Stat. S. 2 praef.—No adv.