per-cŭtĭo, cussi, cussum, 3 (perf. contr. percusti for percussisti, Hor. S. 2, 3, 273), v. a. [quatio].
I (With the notion of the per predominating.) To strike through and through , to thrust or pierce through (syn.: percello, transfigo).
A Lit.: percussus cultello, Varr. R. R. 1, 69, 2: gladio percussus, Cic. Mil. 24, 65: Mamilio pectus percussum, Liv. 2, 19, 8: coxam Aeneae, Juv. 15, 66: vena percutitur, a vein is opened , blood is let , Sen. Ep. 70, 13: fossam, to cut through , dig a trench , Front. Strat. 3, 17; Plin. Ep. 10, 50, 4.—
B Transf., to slay , kill (class.; cf.: neco, perimo, ico, ferio): aliquem securi, to behead , Cic. Pis. 34, 84; id. Fin. 1, 7, 23: collum percussa securi Victima, Ov. Tr. 4, 2, 5; Liv. 39, 43: aliquem veneno, Ap. Met. 10, 28, 9; hostem, Suet. Calig. 3; Ov. H. 4, 94.—Hence, percutere foedus, to make a league , conclude a treaty (because an animal was slaughtered on the occasion; only post-Aug. for ferio, ico), Auct. B. Alex. 44: cum Albanis foedus percussit, Just. 42, 3, 4; 43, 5, 10; Vulg. 3 Reg. 5, 12.—
II (With the idea of the verb predominating.) To strike , beat , hit , smite , shoot , etc. (cf.: ico, pulso, ferio).
A Lit.
1 In gen. (class.): ceu lapidem si Percutiat lapis aut ferrum, Lucr. 6, 162: cum Cato percussus esset ab eo, qui arcam ferebat, had been struck , Cic. de Or. 2, 69, 279: januam manu, Tib. 1, 5, 68; 1, 6, 3: turres de caelo percussae, struck with lightning , Cic. Cat. 3, 8, 19; cf.: hunc nec Juppiter fulmine percussit, id. N. D. 3, 35, 84: percussus ab aspide calcatā, stung , bitten , Plin. 23, 1, 27, § 56; cf.: PERCVSSVS A VIPERA, Inscr. Vermigl. Iscriz. Perug. p. 319; Plin. 28, 3, 6, § 30; 28, 4, 10, § 44: color percussus luce refulgit, struck , Lucr. 2, 799; cf. Ov. M. 6, 63; Val. Fl. 1, 495: auriculae (voce) percussae, Prop. 1, 16, 28: percussus vocibus circus, Sil. 16, 398.— Neutr. : sol percussit super caput, Vulg. Jonae, 4, 8.—
2 In partic.
a To strike , stamp , coin money (post-Aug.): ut nummum argenteum notā sideris Capricorni percusserit, Suet. Aug. 94; id. Ner. 25. —
b To strike , play a musical instrument (poet.): lyram, Ov. Am. 3, 12, 40; Val. Fl. 5, 100.—
c As t. t. in weaving, to throw the shuttle with the woof: (lacernae) male percussae textoris pectine Galli, badly or coarsely woven , Juv. 9, 30.—
d Haec meraclo se percussit flore Libyco (=vino Mareotico), to get drunk , Plaut. Cas. 3, 5, 16 (cf.: sauciare se flore Liberi, Enn. ap. Fulg. 562, 25).—
B Trop.
1 To smite , strike , visit with calamity of any kind (class.): percussus calamitate, Cic. Mur. 24, 49: percussus fortunae vulnere, id. Ac. 1, 3, 11: ruina, Vulg. Zach. 14, 18: anathemate. id. Mal. 4, 6: plaga, id. 1 Macc. 1, 32: in stuporem, id. Zach. 12, 4.—
2 To strike , shock , make an impression upon , affect deeply , move , astound (class.): percussisti me de oratione prolatā, Cic. Att. 3, 12, 3; id. Mil. 29, 79: audivi ex Gavio, Romae esse hominem, et fuisse assiduum: percussit animum, it struck me , made me suspicious , id. Att. 4, 8, b, 3: animos probabilitate, id. Tusc. 5, 11, 33: percussus atrocissimis litteris, id. Fam. 9, 25, 3: fragor aurem percutit, Juv. 11, 98.—
3 To cheat , deceive , impose upon one (class.): aliquem probe, Plaut. Ps. 2, 2, 9: hominem eruditum, Cic. Fl. 20, 46: hominem strategemate, id. Att. 5, 2, 2: aliquem palpo, to flatter , Plaut. Am. 1, 3, 28.—
4 (Acc. to II. A. 2. a.) To strike , stamp (post-Aug.): facta dictaque tua unā formā percussa sunt, Sen. Ep. 34, 3.