I never heard this word until encountering it at Futility Closet. It wasn't even in my Random House - had to dig out the OED and get the magnifying glass:
Apricate. v. rare. [fr. Latin apricat]. To bask in the sun (or to expose to sunlight).Citations from 1691 to 1858 - the latter offering this curious turn of phrase:
"Not sunning, but mooning himself - apricating himself in the occasional moonbeams."Reposted so my wife can once again enjoy seeing our old cat Boo-Boo enjoying the sun at our apartment in St. Louis fifteen years ago.