ex-cŭbo — Lewis & Short
ex-cŭbo, bŭi, bĭtum, 1, v. n.,
I to lie or sleep out of doors.
I In gen. (rare but class.):
moniti Lacedaemonii, ut urbem et tecta linquerent armatique in agro excubarent,Cic. Div. 1, 50, 112:
apes noctu deprehensae in expeditione excubant supinae,Plin. 11, 8, 8, § 19.—
B Trop.:
Graeciam alienis sedibus,Just. 8, 4, 7, v. Fittbogen ad h. l.—Far more freq.,
II In partic., to lie out on guard, to keep watch, to watch.
A Lit.:
duae semper legiones pro castris excubabant,Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 5:
legiones in armis,id. ib. 7, 11, 6:
legiones ad mare,id. B. C. 3, 63, 6:
cohortes ad munitionem,id. ib. 3, 50, 1:
legio per muros,Verg. A. 9, 175:
excubitum in porta cohortes mittere,Sall. J. 100, 4:
Cerberus excubat ante fores,Tib. 1, 3, 72:
quae (naves) ad portum excubabant,kept watch, Caes. B. C. 2, 22, 3 et saep.—Poet.:
(Cupido Chiae) Pulchris excubat in genis,sits on the watch, lurks, Hor. C. 4, 13, 8.—Of things as subjects:
alni contra erumpentium amnium impetus riparum muro in tutela ruris excubant,Plin. 16, 37, 67, § 173:
laurus ante limina excubat,id. 15, 30, 39, § 127.—
B Trop., to watch, be watchful or vigilant, to be on the alert:
cum Caesar ad opus consuetudine excubaret, etc.,Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 2:
in navibus,id. B. C. 3, 8 fin.:
excubabo vigilaboque pro vobis,Cic. Phil. 6, 7, 18:
sapiens semper animo sic excubat, ut nihil ei improvisum accidere possit,id. Tusc. 4, 17, 37: curam rei publicae summae defendundae jam pridem apud vos excubare, is watchful, active, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 8, 5:
omnis eorum ars urbibus excubabat,i. e. was concerned, labored for the cities, Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 118.—Pass. impers.:
rerum, non animi pretiis excubatur,care is exercised, Plin. 35, 7, 32, § 50.