solicits for the consulship

prĕhenso, and more freq. prenso, āvi, ātum, 1, v. freq. a. [id.], to grasp, seize, catch, lay hold of (not freq. till after the Aug. period).

In gen.:

prensare manu bracchia,

Hor. S. 1, 9, 64:

fastigia dextris,

Verg. A. 2, 444:

tenaci forcipe ferrum,

id. ib. 12, 404:

lubrica prensantes effugit umbra manus,

Ov. F. 5, 476:

prehensare hostium tela,

Tac. H. 3, 28.—

In partic., to take hold of, detain a person, in order to talk with him, thank him, entreat him, etc.:

arma, genua, vestigia prensando, flexere militum animos,

Tac. H. 1, 66:

commanipularium pectora,

id. ib. 4, 46:

itaque prenso amicos, supplico, ambio domos,

Plin. Ep. 2, 9:

prensatas exeuntium manus,

Liv. 4, 60.—

Transf., to sue or solicit for an office:

circumire et prensare patres,

Liv. 1, 47, 7.—So absol.:

prensat unus P. Galba,

solicits for the consulship, Cic. Att. 1, 1, 1:

nos initium prensandi facere cogitaramus,

id. ib.