palpo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., and pal-por, ātus [palpus; cf. Gr. ψάλλω], 1, v. dep. a., to stroke, to touch softly, to pat (poet. and in post-Aug. prose; syn. mulceo).
I Lit.: modo pectora praebet Virgineā palpanda manu, Ov. M. 2, 867 Jahn N. cr. : palpate lupos, Manil. 5, 702: cum equum permulsit quis vel palpatus est, Dig. 9, 1, 1: tamquam si manu palpetur, Schol. Juv. 6, 196: animalia blandi manu palpata magistri, Prud. στεφ. 11, 91.—
II Transf.
A To caress , coax , wheedle , flatter.
α Absol. : hoc sis vide ut palpatur! nullus est quando occepit, blandior, Plaut. Merc. 1, 2, 57; Lucil. ap. Non. 472, 6: palpabo, ecquonam modo possim, etc., Cic. Att. 9, 9, 1: nihil asperum tetrumque palpanti est, Sen. Ira, 3, 8, 7.—
β With dat.: quam blande mulieri palpabitur, Plaut. Am. 1, 3, 9: cui male si palpere, recalcitrat undique tutus, Hor. S. 2, 1, 20: scribenti palpare, Poll. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 33, 2.—
γ With acc.: quem munere palpat Carus, Juv. 1, 35; Ap. Met. 5, 31, 11.—
B To feel one's way (late Lat.): et palpes in meridie, sicut palpare solet caecus in tenebris, Vulg. Deut. 28, 29; id. Job, 5, 14.