Lewis & Short

2. sĕro (ui), tum, 3, v. a. [Sanscr. sarat, thread; Gr. σειρά, rope; cf.: εἴρω, ἕρμα, ὅρμος; Lat. series, servus], to join or bind together, to plait, interweave, entwine, etc.

  1. I. Lit. (so only in part. perf.): accipiunt sertas nardo florente coronas, Luc. 10, 164; Cypr. Ep. 4, 3: flores, App. M. 4, p. 156, 4; 10, p. 254, 38: rosa, id. ib. 2, p. 121, 131: loricae, linked, Nep. Iph. 1 fin.; cf. Serv. Verg. A. 1, 421.
    1. B. Subst.: serta, ōrum, n., wreaths of flowers, garlands (freq. and class.): arae sertis recentibus halant, Verg. A. 1, 417: coronae, serta, Plaut. As. 4, 1, 58; Lucr. 4, 1128; 4, 1174; Cic. Tusc. 3, 18, 43; id. Cat. 2, 5, 10; Cat. 6, 8; Verg. E. 6, 16; Tib. 1, 1, 12; 1, 2, 14; 1, 7, 52 et saep. al.
      Rarely in sing.: roseo Venus aurea serto, Aus. Idyll. 6, 88.
      Collat. form serta, ae, f. (sc. corona): cum tua praependent demissae in pocula sertae, Prop. 2, 33 (3, 31), 37; id. et Corn. Sev. ap. Charis. p. 83 P.
  2. II. Trop., to join, connect, interweave; to combine, compose, contrive (class. but rare; syn.: jungo, cieo, instruo): seritote diem concorditer ambo, i. e. alternate according to the succession (in the government), Enn. ap. Charis. p. 177 P. (Ann. v. 110 Vahl.): ex aeternitate causa causam serens, joining in order, following, Cic. Fat. 12, 27: cujus (fati) lege immobilis rerum humanarum ordo seritur, is arranged, disposed, Liv. 25, 6: bella ex bellis serendo, by joining war to war, Sall. H. 4, 61, 20 Dietsch: tumultum ex tumultu, bellum ex bello serunt, id. ib. 1, 48, 7 ib.; cf. Liv. 21, 10; cf.: certamina cum Patribus, to join, engage in, id. 2, 1; so, certamina, id. 27, 12; 27, 41; 40, 48: crebra proelia, Tac. H. 5, 11: quod mihi servus sermonem serat, joins speech, i. e. bandies words with me, Plaut. Curc. 1, 3, 37; cf. id. Mil. 3, 1, 106: multa inter sese vario sermone serebant, Verg. A. 6, 160; Stat. Achill. 2, 38, id. Th. 6, 941: aliquid sermonibus occultis, Liv. 3, 43; 7, 39; 33, 32: secreta colloquia cum eo, id. 34, 61: populares orationes, to put together, compose, id. 10, 19; cf.: (Livius) ab saturis ausus est primus argumento fabulam serere, id. 7, 2, 8: quid seris fando moras? why are you contriving? Sen. Med. 281: negotium, to make, prepare, Plaut. Most. 5, 1, 51: crimina belli, Verg. A. 7, 339.