omittō

Intermittere means merely to leave off for a time,—in tempus mittere cum spe consilioque resumendi; whereas omittere, to leave out altogether. Varro Fr. Studia tantum intermittantur, ne omittantur. (i. 3.)

1. Mittere μεθεῖναι is the general expression, to send; legare (from λέγω) has a special political meaning, to delegate. The missus makes his appearance as a servant or messenger; the legatus, as a representative. 2. Amittere and dimittere mean to let go any thing already in one’s possession; amittere, against one’s will, as to lose; dimittere, after having used it, as to dismiss; whereas omittere means to let anything pass by, without taking possession of it; to speak with precision, Amittimus inviti et casu, omittimus volentes et sponte. Hence amittere occasionem means, to let slip an opportunity, so as not to be able to take advantage of it, from negligence; whereas omittere occasionem means, to renounce an opportunity, so as not to wish to take advantage of it, from attaching little value to it. Vitam amittere means, to lose one’s life; vitam omittere, to sacrifice it. (iii. 285.)

1. Relinquere, to leave behind, has reference to an object, to which one stands in a mere outward and local relation of proximity; whereas deserere and omittere, to an object to which one stands in an inward and moral relation as an owner or friend; desertio, like leaving in the lurch, has its ground in cowardice, or other forgetfulness of duty, in opp. to defensio, tutatio; omissio, like giving up, has its ground in a conviction of being able to dispense with, in opp. to obtinere. Tac. Dial. 16. Partes quas intellexerimus te non tam omisisse quam nobis reliquisse. And 9. Relinquenda conversatio amicorum et jucunditas urbis, deserenda cætera officia. Cic. Verr. i. 4. 11. Desertum exercitum, relictam provinciam. 2. Deserere means to forsake, and expose to a possible and remote danger; destituere to an actual and impending danger. Curt. iv. 2, 32. Desertus, destitutus, hostibus deditus. Liv. vi. 2. Quod defensores suos in ipso discrimine periculi destituat. 3. Desertus and destitutus denote, especially, forgetfulness of duty; whereas desolatus, the unmercifulness of the action. Suet. Cal. 12. Deserta, desolataque reliquis subsidiis aula. (iii. 290.)