Lewis & Short

crŭento, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [cruentus], to make bloody, to spot with blood (class.).

  1. I. Lit.: vigiles, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 1, 4: manus suorum sanguine, Nep. Epam. 10, 3; cf. Liv. 23, 9, 4, and Tac. H. 1, 58 fin.: cornipedem ferratā calce, Sil. 17, 541: gladium, Cic. Inv. 2, 4, 14; cf. tela, Ov. M. 8, 424: ōs, id. ib. 4, 104: dextras, id. ib. 11, 23: cruentati redeunt, id. ib. 3, 572: ut sequenti die Luna se in Aquario cruentaret, would appear to be stained with blood, Suet. Dom. 16.
    1. B. Trop.: haec te lacerat, haec cruentat oratio, wounds, Cic. Phil. 2, 34, 86 (v. the figure in its connection).
  2. II. Transf.
    1. * A. To spot, stain, pollute: vestem, Lucr. 4, 1033.
    2. B. To dye red, to tinge with red (post-Aug.): conchylio vestis cruentatur, Sen. Contr 2, 15 fin.; so Stat. S. 1, 5, 38.