aperire

Aperire is a Latin verb of the fourth conjugation meaning to open, to uncover, or to reveal. It is used both literally, with physical openings, and figuratively, in the sense of making something known or accessible. In classical Latin it appears in a wide range of contexts, from opening a door or a gate to opening the mind or a matter to discussion.

It belongs to the fourth conjugation and has the standard principal parts aperio, aperire, aperui, apertus. In the present active indicative it forms as aperio, aperis, aperit, aperimus, aperitis, aperiunt. The imperfect is like aperiebam, and the perfect is aperui, with the participle apertus as the perfect passive form.

Common constructions include opening something: portam aperire (to open the gate); os aperire (to open the mouth); rem aperire (to reveal a matter). Phrases such as aperire animum refer to opening one's mind or attitude. It can be used transitively with direct objects and with phrases expressing beginning or exposing.

Derivative forms include the adjectival apertus (open, exposed). The verb is attested across authors from the late Republic to late Antiquity and has left a mark on later vocabulary in Latin and in Romance languages.