Lewis & Short

ex-ăcŭo, ŭi, ūtum, 3, v. a., to make very sharp, to sharpen, make pointed (class.).

  1. I. Lit.: ferramenta cote, Plin. 28, 4, 12, § 47; 34, 14, 41, § 146: ridicas, Col. 11, 2, 12: vallos furcasque bicornes, Verg. G. 1, 264: spicula, id. ib. 4, 74: dentes, id. ib. 3, 255: metas in angustissimas vertices, Col. 2, 18, 2: cornua in leve fastigium, Plin. 11, 37, 45, § 124 et saep.
    1. B. Transf., of taste: aceto exacuendo, for making pungent, Plin. 19, 5, 30, § 93; of the sight: aciem oculorum, id. 24, 11, 59, § 99; cf. visum, id. 29, 6, 38, § 132.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. In gen.: nisi mucronem aliquem tribunitium exacuisset in nos, Cic. Leg. 3, 9, 21: (cum animus) exacuerit illam ut oculorum sic ingenii aciem ad bona diligenda, id. ib. 1, 23, 60; cf. animum, Plin. 20, 13, 50, § 127: morbos, i. e. to aggravate, Col. poët. 10, 392.
    2. B. In partic., to sharpen or quicken mentally, to incite, encourage, stimulate, inflame: velim cohortere et exacuas Cluatium, Cic. Att. 12, 36 fin.: aliquem (opp. deterrere), id. de Or. 1, 29: aliquem irā, Nep. Phoc. 4: se ad amorem immortalitatis, Plin. Ep. 3, 7 fin.: animos in bella, Hor. A P. 403: mentem varia ad conamina, Sil. 7, 142.
      Poet.: palatum (sapor), Ov. Pont. 1, 10, 13.