mĭco, ŭi (pf. subj. micaverit, Sol. 53), 1, v. n. [Sanscr. mish-, to wink], to move quickly to and fro, to have a vibrating or tremulous motion, to quiver, shake, tremble, e. g. of the pulse; to beat, palpitate; to spring forth, of fountains; of the tremulous rays of the stars, to twinkle, sparkle, glitter, gleam, flash (class.).
I In gen.: venae et arteriae micare non desinunt, Cic. N. D. 2, 9, 24: linguis micat ore trisulcis, Verg. G. 3, 439: gladii, Liv. 6, 12, 9: corque timore micat, beats, palpitates , Ov. F. 3, 36: nec audissem corde micante tubam, for the beating , Prop. 1, 10, 12: metu micuere sinus, Ov. H. 1, 45: et modo cervicem, modo crura micantia captat, id. M. 9, 37: noctuarum genus, quibus pluma aurium modo micat, Plin. 29, 6, 38, § 117: semianimesque micant (culi (of a head cut off), twitch , Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 10, 396 (Ann. v. 463 Vahl.): digiti (of a hand cut off), Verg. A. 10, 396: auribus (of a horse), id. G. 3, 84: micuere fontes, spring forth , Luc. 4, 300: citatus vulnere angusto micat (cruor), Sen. Oedip. 345: fulmina etiam sic undique micabant, ut peti viderentur corpora, flashed in every direction , Liv. 40, 58, 5: inter horrendos fragores micare ignes, id. 21, 58, 5: tum micent gladii, id. 6, 12, 9: eo ferocior inlatus hostis urgere scutis, micare gladiis, id. 4, 37, 10.—
II In partic.
A To raise suddenly some of the fingers and let another instantly guess their number , which was practised both as a game of chance (called in Italy mora) and as a mode of deciding doubtful matters: micare est sortiri digitis, Non. 347, 27: micandum erit cum Graeco, utrum ... an, Varr. ap. Non. 347, 30: quid enim sors est? item propemodum, quod micare, quod talos jacere, Cic. Div. 2, 41, 85: quasi sorte, aut micando, id. Off. 3, 23, 90: patrem et filium pro vita rogantes sortiri vel micare jussisse, Suet. Aug. 13.—Prov.: dignus est, quicum in tenebris mices, said of a thoroughly honest man, since it would be easy to cheat in the dark, Cic. Off. 3, 19, 77: cum quo audacter posses in tenebris micare, Petr. 44.—Also in contracts: RATIO DOCVIT, CONSVETVDINE MICANDI SVMMOTA, SVB EXAGIO POTIVS PECORA VENDERE, QVAM DIGITIS CONCLVDENTIBVS TRADERE, Edict. in Inscr. Orell. 3166.—
B Poet. of the brilliancy of the stars, of the eyes, etc., to flash, gleam, beam, shine, be bright : micat inter omnes Julium sidus, Hor. C. 1, 12, 46: micat ignibus aether, Verg. A. 1, 90. oculis micat ignis, fire flashes from his eyes , id. ib. 12, 102: ex oculis micat acrius ardor, Lucr. 3, 289: micant ardorem orbes luminis, Verg. Cul. 220: genitor circum caput omne micantes Deposuit radios, Ov. M. 2, 40: celeri micuerunt nubila flamma, id. Tr. 1, 2, 45.
V —Hence, mĭcans , antis, P. a., twinkling, sparkling, glittering, gleaming, flashing, glowing : stella micans radiis Arcturus, Cic. Div. Poët. 2, 42, 110: micantes stellae, Ov. M. 7, 100; Vulg. Job, 38, 31: oculos circumtulit igne micantes, Ov. M. 15, 674: vultus, Liv. 6, 13.— Comp. : radius sole micantior, Prud. Cath. 5, 44.