pedetemptim
ἀλλ' οὐδὲν δεῖ παρὰ τὸν βωμόν σε βουλεύειν → better safe than sorry
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
pĕdĕtemptim: or pĕdĕtentim, adv. pes-tendo; qs. by stretching out the feet; cf. Doed. Syn. 3, p. 98; hence,
I step by step, slowly (syn.: paulatim, sensim).
I Lit.: expectando excrucior. Pa. Pedetemptim, Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 32: pedetemptim et sedato nisu, Pac. ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 21, 48 (Trag. Rel. p. 91 Rib.).—Of elephants: quaerendis pedetentim vadis, in terram evasere, Liv. 21, 28 fin.—
II Trop., by degrees, gradually, cautiously (class.): sensim et pedetemptim, Lucil. ap. Non. 29, 7; cf. Cic. Off. 1, 33, 120: pedetemptim et gradatim accessus, id. Fam. 9, 14, 7; cf.: paulatim et ut dicitur pedetentim interrogando, Quint. 5, 7, 20: timide et pedetemptim istuc descendunt, Cic. Quint. 16; cf.: caute pedetemptimque omnia dicere, id. Clu. 42: viam tentare, Cato ap. Charis. p. 190 P.: di bene vortant quod agas! pedetemptim tamen, Ter. Phorm. 3, 3, 19.—Comp.: pedetemptius tibi consulam, M. Aur. ap. Front. Ep. ad M. Caes. 3, 2.
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
pĕdĕtemptim (pede tento, le pied étant retenu Ernout, 1985), en marchant avec précaution : Pacuv. 256
