incŭtĭo, cussi, cussum, ĕre, v. a. [inquatio], to strike upon or against (syn.: impingo, illido, infligo; class.; in Cic. only in the trop. signif.).
I Lit.: scipionem in caput alicujus, Liv. 5, 41, 9: pedem terrae, to strike or dash against , Quint. 2, 12, 10: pollicem limini cubiculi, Plin. 7, 53, 54, § 181: tignum capiti, Juv. 3, 246: incutiebantur puppibus prorae, Curt. 9, 9: incussi articuli, i. e. injured by a blow , Plin. 30, 9, 23, § 78.—Hence, subst.: incussa , ōrum, n. plur., bruised or injured parts , Plin. 29, 2, 9, § 33; 22, 14, 16, § 37.—
B Transf., to throw , cast , hurl : tormentis faces et hastas, Tac. A. 13, 39: tela saxaque, id. H. 3, 31: imber grandinem incutiens, Curt. 8, 4, 5: colaphum, to give a box on the ear , Juv. 9, 5. —
II Trop.
A To strike into , to inspire with , inflict , excite , produce terror, disturbance, etc.
α With dat.: multis magnum metum, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 4, 2: terrorem alicui, Cic. Univ. 10 fin. : religionem animo, Liv. 22, 42, 9: alicui foedum nuntium, bring bad news , id. 2, 8, 7: animis subitam formidinem, Curt. 4, 13, 13: ingentem animo sollicitudinem, id. 3, 6, 5: desiderium urbis, Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 22: ne forte negoti Incutiat tibi quid sanctarum inscitia legum, should occasion trouble , id. S. 2, 1, 80. —
β Without dat.: timor incutitur aut ex ipsorum periculis aut ex communibus, Cic. de Or. 2, 51, 209. —
B To shake , cause to tremble : crebrior incussit mentem pavor, Val. Fl. 5, 551.