plango, nxi, nctum, 3, v. a. [from the root ΠΛΑΓ, πλήσσω; cf. Lat. plāga], to strike, beat, esp. with a noise.
I In gen. (poet.; cf. plaudo): fluctus plangentes saxa, Lucr. 2, 1155; 6, 115: moribundo vertice terram, Ov. M. 12, 118: humum, id. H. 16, 334: quanto planguntur litora fluctu! id. ib. 19, 121: tympana palmis, Cat. 64, 261: nunc (Boreas) ipsas alis planget stridentibus Alpes, Sil. 1, 588.— Pass. , of a bird when caught: plangitur, beats with its wings , Ov. M. 11, 75.—
II In partic., to beat the breast , head , etc., as a sign of grief (class.): qui multis inspectantibus caput feriebas, femina plangebas, Cic. aer. alien. Mil. Fragm. 2, 4 (t. 11, p. 32 B. and K.): laniataque pectora plangens, Ov. M. 6, 248: femur maerenti dextrā, id. ib. 11, 81: lacertos, id. ib. 9, 636: pectus, Petr. 111.— Pass. (= κόπτεσθαι): scissaeque capillos Planguntur matres Calydonides Eveninae, beat themselves for agony , Ov. M. 8, 526.—
B Transf., to lament aloud , wring the hands; with aliquem or aliquid , to bewail a person or thing (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): planxere sorores Naïdes ... Planxere et Dryades: plangentibus absonat Echo, Ov. M. 3, 505: ab omni plangitur arce, Stat. Th. 11, 417: plangentia agmina, Verg. A. 11, 145: plangentium gemitus, Just. 19, 2 fin. : modo Sporum hortabatur ut lamentari ac plangere inciperet, Suet. Ner. 49; id. Oth. 8: plangentis populi derisor, Juv. 6, 534.—With an object : tendit palmas, ceu sit planctura relictam Andromedam, Caes. Germ. Arat. 198; Val. Fl. 3, 297: Memphiten bovem (i. e. Apim), Tib. 1, 8, 27 (7, 28): damna, Stat. Th. 11, 117: malum, Claud. Rapt. Pros. 3, 159; Vulg. Judic. 11, 37.— Pass. : virtutes quas neque lugeri neque plangi fas est, Tac. Agr. 46: majore tumultu Planguntur nummi quam funera, Juv. 13, 131.