Lewis & Short

quătĭo, no perf., quassum, 3, v. a. [Sanscr. root, cyu-, to move, set in motion; cf. Gr. σκεῦος, instrument; σκευάζω, to prepare], to shake (class.; syn.: concutio, convello).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen., Fest. p. 261 Müll.: cum equus magnā vi caput quateret, Liv. 8, 7: alas, Verg. A. 3, 226: pennas, Ov. M. 4, 676; Hor. C. 3, 29, 53: aquas, to agitate, disturb, Ov. H. 18, 48: cymbala, Verg. G. 4, 64: catenas, Plin. Ep. 7, 27, 5: caput. Ov. F. 6, 400: comas, id. H. 14, 40: quercum huc illuc, id. M. 12, 329.
      Of earthquakes: quatitur terrae motibus Ide, Ov. M. 12, 521: quid quateret terras, id. ib. 15, 71: quatiens terram fragor, Sil. 1, 536.
      Of the ground, by treading, marching, etc.: campum, Verg. A. 11, 875: campos, id. ib. 11, 513; Sil. 1, 297: quatitur tellus pondere, id. 4, 199: sonitu quatit ungula campum, Verg. A. 8, 596: pede ter humum, Hor. C. 4, 1, 28: pede terram, id. ib. 1, 4, 7: quatitur certamine circus, Sil. 16, 323.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. Of arms, weapons, reins, etc., to wield, brandish, ply, hold: securim, Verg. A. 11, 656: ensem, Sil. 1, 429: aegida, id. 12, 336: scuta, Tac. H. 2, 22: hastam, Petr. 124: lora, Sil. 16, 415; 16, 440: largas habenas, id. 17, 542: verbera (i. e. flagella), Verg. Cul. 218.
      2. 2. Of the body, breast, limbs, etc., to agitate, shake, cause to tremble, etc.: horror Membra quatit, Verg. A. 3, 29: anhelitus artus et ora quatit, id. ib. 5, 199: tussis pulmonem quatit, Sil. 14, 601: terror praecordia, id. 2, 254: pectora quatit gemitu, Val. Fl. 5, 310.
      3. 3. To beat, strike, drive: homo quatietur certe cum dono foras, to beat out of doors, Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 67: Arctophylax prae se quatit Arctum, Cic. poët. N. I). 2, 42, 109: cursu quatere equum, Verg. G. 3, 132; Sil. 12, 254.
        Of things: quatiunt fenestras juvenes, Hor. C. 1, 25, 1: scutum hastà, Liv. 7, 26, 1.
      4. 4. To shake, beat, or break in pieces, to batter, shatter: urbis moenia ariete quatere, Liv. 21, 10: muros, Verg. A. 2, 610: muros arietibus, Liv. 38, 10: turres tremendā cuspide, Hor. C. 4, 6, 7: tecta quatiuntur, Plin. Pan. 51, 1: externas arces, Sil. 2, 300: Pergama, id. 13, 36; cf.: tonitru quatiuntur caerula caeli, Lucr. 6, 96.
  2. II. Trop., to agitate, more, touch, affect, excite: est in animis tenerum quiddam quod aegritudine quasi tempestate quatiatur, Cic. Tusc. 3, 6, 12: mentem, Hor. C. 1, 16, 5: nec vultus tyranni Mente quatit solidā (justum virum), id. ib. 3, 3, 4: non ego te Invitum quatiam, id. ib. 1, 18, 12: quatiunt oracula Colchos, Val. Fl. 1, 743: famā oppida, id. 2, 122: quatit castra clamor, Sil. 3, 231: tumultus pectora quatit, Sen. Thyest. 260: ingenium, Tac. H. 1, 23: animum, Gell. 9, 13, 5: cum altissima quaterentur, hic inconcussus stetit, Plin. Pan. 94, 3.
    1. B. In partic., to plague, vex, harass: quatere oppida bello, Verg. A. 9, 608: extrema Galliarum, Tac. H. 4, 28.
      Hence, quassus, a, um, P. a.
    1. A. Lit., shaken, beaten, or broken in pieces, battered, shattered: aula quassa, a broken pot, Plaut. Curc. 3, 26: muri, Liv. 26, 51: naves, id. 25, 3: faces, i. e. pieces of pine-wood split up for torches, Ov. M. 3, 508: rates, shattered, leaky, Hor. C. 4, 8, 32; 1, 1, 18: murra, Ov. M. 15, 399: lectus, id. H. 11, 78: harundo, Petr. 69: turres, Sen. Thyest. 568; cf.: multo tempora quassa mero, Ov. R. Am. 146; cf. quasso, I. B.
    2. B. Trop.: quassā voce, in a broken voice, Curt. 7, 7, 20: littera, Quint. 12, 10, 29: anima quassa malis, broken down, exhausted, worn out, Sen. Herc. Fur. 1308: quasso imperio, Sil. 15, 7.