exsculpo

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

ex-sculpo: (exculp-), psi, ptum, 3, v. a.
I To dig out, cut out, chisel out, carve.
   A Lit.: terram unde exsculpserant, fossam vocabant, Varr. L. L. 5, § 143 Müll.: foramina arborum exsculpta digitos sex. Cato, R. R. 18, 2: nescio quid e quercu exsculpseram, quod videretur simile simulacri, Cic. Att. 13, 28, 2: signum ex molari lapide, Quint. 2, 19, 3; cf. id. 2, 4, 7.—
   2    Transf., prov.: leoni esurienti ex ore exsculpere praedam, said of any thing exceedingly difficult or daring, Lucil. ap. Non. 102, 22. —
   B Trop., to get out, elicit, extort: ex aliquo verum, Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 45: in quaestione vix exsculpsi, ut diceret, obtained, Plaut. Cist. 2, 2, 6.—*
II To scratch out, erase: hos versus Lacedaemonii exsculpserunt, Nep. Paus. 1, 4.