I.to dip in, immerse (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
I. Lit.: “balantumque gregem fluvio mersare salubri,” Verg. G. 1, 272: “balneo infertur, calida aqua mersatur,” Tac. A. 15, 69.—
II. Trop., to overwhelm: “rerum copia mersat,” drowns, destroys, Lucr. 5, 1008: “mersor civilibus undis,” plunge myself, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 16.—
III. Pass.: mersari, to set, of the stars, Mart. Cap. 8, § 844; cf. merto.