Lewis & Short

dis-cŭtĭo, cussi, cussum, 3, v. a. [quatio], to strike asunder, dash to pieces, shatter, etc.

  1. I. In gen.: dentes, Lucil. ap. Non. 455, 18: deum delubra, Lucr. 6, 418; cf.: columna rostrata tota ad imum fulmine discussa est, Liv. 42, 20: ne saxa ex catapultis lateritium discuterent, Caes. B. C. 2, 9, 3; cf.: aliquantum muri tribus arietibus, Liv. 21, 12: rostro (navis) discusso, shattered, Auct. B. Alex. 46, 2; cf.: tempora cava ictu, Ov. M. 2, 625: ora saxo, id. ib. 4, 519: percussam aquam, Plin. 28, 8, 29, § 118: nubes, Ov. M. 15, 70: discussae jubae capiti, Verg. A. 9, 810 et saep.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. In medic. lang., to scatter, disperse ( = digerere), Cels. 2, 17; 3, 15; Scrib. Comp. 43; Plin. 30, 15, 47, § 135 et saep.
    2. B. Pregn., to break up, scatter, disperse, dissipate.
      1. 1. Lit. (rarely): illos coetus, Liv. 2, 28; cf.: Boeoticum consilium, id. 42, 44: sole orto est discussa (caligo), id. 29, 27: caligo, Cic. Phil. 12, 2, 5; cf. umbras (sol), Verg. G. 3, 357; id. A. 12, 669: discussa nox, Luc. 5, 700.
        Rarely with pers. objects: Cato discutit Etruscos, Gabinius Marsos, etc., routs, subdues, Flor. 3, 18, 13; cf.: hostiles turmae discussae, Amm. 25, 1.
        Far more freq. and class.,
      2. 2. Trop.: terrorem animi tenebrasque, to disperse, dispel, Lucr. 1, 148; 2, 61 al.; cf. Cic. de Or. 3, 57: quod rem totam discusseram, had frustrated, brought to naught, id. Q. Fr. 2, 12; so freq.: rem, Liv. 34, 56; 39, 10; Suet. Dom. 2 al.: discutere et comprimere periculum consilio, Cic. Mur. 39, 84; so, periculum, Liv. 2, 52; Front. Strat. 2, 11, 4: captiones (shortly before: dissolvere interrogationes), Cic. Ac. 2, 15, 46: omnem ejus cunctationem, Asin. Pollio ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 33, 2: disceptationem, Liv. 38, 13: crimen alicujus, Quint. 4, 2, 18: famam, Tac. H. 2, 9: fidem, Luc. 1, 119: consilia hostium, Front. Strat. 4, 7, 31: seditionem, id. ib. 1, 9, 2; Vell. 2, 81: bellum (with sepelire), id. 2, 75: nefas, Flor. 3, 18, 9 et saep.
        Hence, * discussē, adv., only comp., minutely, accurately: explorare discussius, Mart. Cap. 9, § 891.
        Note: For the meaning to investigate, discuss (lit., to separate mentally, distinguish, as in disputare, discernere, etc.), which prevails in the post-class. derivatives: discussio, discussor, and discusse; as also in the Romance: discutere, discussare, discussione; discuter, discussion, etc., there appear to be no examples in the literary language.