silvescere

silvescere [CL] 1 (of plant) to grow in an uncontrolled manner, to run wild; b (transf. or fig.). omnes species plante que non fuerint culte silvestrescunt Alf. Angl. Plant. I 13 p. 19; vinea non putata in labruscam ~it Neckam NR II 167; in orto spinetum vernali silvescit, / vitem obtruncat acies hilarantem J. Howd. Cant. 101; vites degenerant in labruscas ‥ in oleastros olive ~unt R. Bury Phil. prol. 6.  b obstinatioris parcitatis ~ente propagine O. Cant. Pref. Frith. 14; satagebat ‥ spinas peccatorum et tribulos vitiorum, que ex antiquo maledicto faciem terre ~endo operuerant, succendere J. Furness Kentig. 34 p. 220; virulenta heresum seges circumquaque ~it P. Blois Perf. Jud. 825; quod nemus juxta altare Domini crescat, quod circa ecclesie rectorem sollicitudinum multitudo ~at Id. Ep. 16. 60; quidquid silvescit secat ensis; doctus arator / divini verbi vomere sulcat humum Garl. Tri. Eccl. 76. 2 (of place) to be covered with trees or plants growing wild, to become woodland; b (fig.); c (transf. w. ref. to facial hair). exercitio nemorum adeo deditus ut ‥ multa milia ejectis habitatoribus ~ere juberet W. Malm. GR III 279; amaras, quibus ~it insula ‥ taxos Gir. TH I 6 p. 28; 1206 spinarum semen Dei suffocantium densitate ~at P. Blois Ep. Sup. 19. 6.  b illa pars Anglie in qua clerus monstruosius dominatur, ab ista religione magis silvestricat Wycl. Blasph. 268.  c communis ‥ rubo via non silvescit Hanv. I 391; qui nondum genule silvescunt vepribus Walt. Wimb. Palpo 171. 3 to live in woodland or in the wild; b (fig.). domesticas dediscere curas, et celesti in solitudine silvescere [? l. silescere] G. Hoyland Ascet. 262.  b ut quid ab antiquo vatum proscripta tumultu / veri sacra fides longum silvescis in evum J. Exon. BT I 7. 4 (of person) to become wild or unruly, to behave in an uncontrolled manner. si tibi silvescat animus, preme vota! J. Exon. Virg. 93; domare ‥ carnem suam, quam cito sentit quod nimis silvestrit [ME: hit awilgeð], cum jejuniis AncrR 43; alioquin ipsa [sc. anachorita] ~eret [ME: awilgen] Ib. 59.