torpĕo, ēre, v. n. [Sanscr. root tarp-, to sate; Gr. τέρπω], to be stiff, numb, motionless, inactive, torpid, sluggish, etc. (syn.: langueo, languesco, stupeo, rigeo).
I Lit.: torpentes gelu, Liv. 21, 56, 7; 21, 55, 8; cf.: digitus torpens frigore, Suet. Aug. 80: languidi et torpentes oculi, Quint. 11, 3, 76: torpentes rigore nervi, Liv. 21, 58, 9: membra torpent, Plin. 7, 50, 51, § 168; cf.: torpentes membrorum partes, id. 24, 4, 7, § 13: torpent infractae ad proelia vires, Verg. A. 9, 499: duroque simillima saxo Torpet, Ov. M. 13, 541: quid vetat et nervos magicas torpere per artes? id. Am. 3, 7, 35: serpentes torpentes inveniantur, Plin. 24, 16, 92, § 148: hostem habes aegre torpentia membra trahentem, Sil. 4, 68: non eadem vini atque cibi torpente palato Gaudia, Juv. 10, 203; cf.: non exacuet torpens sapor ille palatum, Ov. P. 1, 10, 13.—
B Transf., of inanim. things, to be still , motionless , sluggish : torpentes lacus, Stat. Th. 9, 452: amnis, id. ib. 4, 172: locus depressus hieme pruinis torpet, Col. 1, 4, 10: Orpheus tacuit torpente lyrā, Sen. Med. 348: antra Musarum longo torpentia somno, Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, praef. 51; 1, 262.—
II Trop., to be stupid , stupefied , astounded; to be dull , listless , inactive (cf. stupeo): timeo, totus torpeo, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 179; cf.: timore torpeo, id. Truc. 4, 3, 50: torpentibus metu qui aderant, Liv. 28, 29, 11: deum volumus cessatione torpere, Cic. N. D. 1, 37, 102: quidnam torpentes subito obstupuistis Achivi? id. poët. Div. 2, 30, 64 torpentes metu, Liv. 28, 29, 11: defixis oculis animoque et corpore torpet? Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 14: cum Pausiacā torpes tabellā, when you are lost in admiration , id. S. 2, 7, 95: nec torpere gravi passus sua regna veterno, Verg. G. 1, 124: frigere ac torpere senis consilia, Liv. 6, 23, 7: consilia re subitā, id. 1, 41, 3: torpebat vox spiritusque, id. 1, 25, 4: Tyrii desperatione torpebant, Curt. 4, 3, 16: rursus ad spem et fiduciam erigere torpentes, id. 4, 10, 7; 4, 14, 13.