per-mulcĕo, mulsi, sum, and ctum, 2, v. a., to rub gently, to stroke.
I Lit.: ut pulverem Manibus isdem, quibus Ulixi saepe permulsi, abluam, Pac. ap. Gell. 2, 26, 13 (Trag. Rel. p. 90 Rib.); so, aliquem manu, Ov. F. 4, 551: capite permulso, Varr. ap. Prisc. p. 871 P.: barbam, Liv. 5, 41: alicui malas, Suet. Ner. 1: comas, Ov. M. 2, 733.—
B Transf.
1 To touch gently : aram flatu permulcet spiritus austri, blows softly upon , Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 44, 114: arteriae leni voce permulsae, Auct. Her. 3, 12, 21: medicatā lumina virgā, Ov. M. 1, 716; Cat. 62, 162.—
2 To soften : cera picem lenitate permulcet, Pall. 10, 11, 2.—
II Trop.
A To charm , please , delight , flatter , fondle : sensum voluptate, Cic. Fin. 2, 10, 32: aures, id. Or. 49, 163: aliquem permulcere atque allicere, id. de Or. 2, 78, 315: aures cantibus, Sil. 11, 292: his verbis vacuas permulceat auris, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 26.—
B To soothe , appease , allay , tame : eorum animis permulsis et confirmatis, Caes. B. G. 4, 6: pectora dictis, Verg. A. 5, 816: liberalibus verbis permulcti sunt, Sall. Fragm. ap. Prisc. p. 871 P.: iram alicujus, Liv. 39, 23: aliquem mitibus verbis, Tac. A. 2, 34: comitate militem, id. ib. 1, 29: animos, Lucr. 5, 21: senectutem, to mitigate , Cic. Sen. 2, 4.