ăcūlĕātus, a, um, adj. [aculeus], furnished with stings or prickles, thorny, prickly.
I Lit., of animals and plants: animalia, Plin. 20, 22, 91, 247: bruchus, Vulg. Jer. 51, 27: herbae, Plin. 24, 19, 119, 182: ictus, a puncture made by a sting , Plin. 20, 21, 84, § 223.—
II Fig.
A Stinging , pointed , sharp : istaec ... aculeata sunt, animum fodicant, Plaut. Bacch. 1, 1, 30: litterae, Cic. Att. 14, 18, 1.—
B Subtle , cunning : contorta et aculeata sophismata, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 24.