spit (v.) Copy link Outline I. To run a s. throughII. To eject (saliva) from the mouth1. spuo, i, ūtum, 3 (both intrans. and trans.)2. spūto, 1 (freq. of spuo)3. exscreo, 1 (to cough out, clearing the throat)4. expr. by spūtum, sălīva, with a verb • spit (v.): I. To run a s. through: Phr.: veru figere (transfigere), Virg. Aen. 1, 212. See also, to pierce, transfix. II. To eject (saliva) from the mouth: 1. spuo, i, ūtum, 3 (both intrans. and trans.): to s. into one's bosom, in sinum s., Plin. 28, 4, 7: to s. dirt from the mouth, terram ore s., Virg. G. 4, 97. Comps.: (1.) exspuo, 3 (to s. out): to s. into one's hand (intrans.), ex. in mediam manum, Plin. l. c.: to s. blood, sanguinem e., id. 35, 16, 53. Fig.: to reject with loathing: Cat. (2.) inspuo, 3 (to s. on or upon): foll. by in and acc.: to s. in any one's face, in faciem alicujus salivam i., Sen. Ir. 3, 38: also with dat. of indirect obj., ib.: Plin. (3.) adspuo, 3 (= inspuo: rare): Plin. (4.) conspuo, 3 (to be-spit: trans.): Hor. S. 2, 5, 41. Esp. to s. upon contemptuously: Petr. (In this sense also freq. consputo, 1: Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 3.) (5.) despuo, 3 (to s. away): esp. of s.ing by way of charm: to avert epilepsy by s.ing, comitialem morbum d., Plin. 28, 4, 7. 2. spūto, 1 (freq. of spuo): to s. blood, sanguinem s., Pl. Merc. 1, 2, 30. Comps.: insputo, 1 (to s. in), Pl.: consputo, 1: v. supr. 1. 3. exscreo, 1 (to cough out, clearing the throat): to s. phlegm or blood, pituitam, sanguinem ex., Cels. 4, 6. Also intrans.: Suet. Ner. 24. 4. expr. by spūtum, sălīva, with a verb: e. g. sputum edere, Cels. 2, 8, med.: s. ejicere, id. (Kr.): to s. into any one's bosom, in sinum alicujus sputa mittere, Mart. 2, 26: to s. in any one's face, os alicujus sputo respergere, Val. Max. 5, 1, extr. 2. (N.B.--Not salivare, which is to emit a mucus, as snails, etc.)