I. Act.
A. To skim off, to skim.
1. Prop.: “undam aeni foliis,” Verg. G. 1, 296: “carnem,” Plin. 9, 38, 62, § 133: “mel Atticum,” Col. 12, 38, 5: “aquam salsam,” Pall. Febr. 25, 10.—
2. Transf., to work off, digest wine: “Falernum,” Pers. 3, 3; to rub off, polish a pavement: “pavimenti fastigium cote,” Plin. 36, 25, 62, § 187; cf. Vitr. 7, 4; to let blood, to bleed a horse, Veg. A. V. 3, 34, 2 al.—
B. To deposit a frothy matter, Luc. 6, 506; “Claud. in Prob. et Olyb. 54: Phoebe suppositas in herbas,” Luc. 6, 506; cf.: “despumantes suas confusiones,” i. e. expressing by foaming, Vulg. Judae, 13.—
II. Neutr., to cease foaming, to slacken, abate: “ut nimius ille fervor despumet,” Sen. Ira, 2, 20: “cum aliquid lacrymarum affectus despumaverit,” id. Ep. 99, 27: “aetas,” id. ib. 68 fin.
