lănĭo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [etym. dub.; cf. lacer, δάκνω], to tear or rend in pieces, to mangle, lacerate (class.; cf.: lacero, discerpo, dilanio).
I Lit.: hominem, Cic. Fam. 7, 1, 3: corpora a feris laniata, id. Tusc. 1, 45, 108: lanianda viscera praebere, Liv. 9, 1, 9: laniando dentibus hostem exspirare, id. 22, 51, 9: foede crura brachiaque, Tac. H. 1, 41: vestem, Ov. M. 5, 398: vestes, Quint. 11, 3, 174: Priamiden laniatum corpore toto vidit, Verg. A. 6, 494: digitis ora, Ov. A. A. 3, 678: carmen, Dig. 33, 7, 18 init. —With Gr. acc. : flavos Lavinia crinīs, Et roseas laniata genas, Verg. A. 12, 606: comas, Ov. M. 4, 139.—Transf., poet.: venti mundum laniant, Ov. M. 1, 60: laniata classis, id. H. 7, 175.—
II Trop. (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): et tua sacrilegae laniarunt carmina linguae, Ov. R. Am. 367: vitia cor laniant, Sen. Ep. 51, 13.