incŭtĭo, cussi, cussum, ĕre, v. a. [inquatio], to strike upon or against (syn.: impingo, illido, infligo; class.; in Cic. only in the trop. signif.).
- I. Lit.: scipionem in caput alicujus, Liv. 5, 41, 9: pedem terrae, to strike or dash against, Quint. 2, 12, 10: pollicem limini cubiculi, Plin. 7, 53, 54, § 181: tignum capiti, Juv. 3, 246: incutiebantur puppibus prorae, Curt. 9, 9: incussi articuli, i. e. injured by a blow, Plin. 30, 9, 23, § 78.
Hence, subst.: incussa, ōrum, n. plur., bruised or injured parts, Plin. 29, 2, 9, § 33; 22, 14, 16, § 37.
- B. Transf., to throw, cast, hurl: tormentis faces et hastas, Tac. A. 13, 39: tela saxaque, id. H. 3, 31: imber grandinem incutiens, Curt. 8, 4, 5: colaphum, to give a box on the ear, Juv. 9, 5.
- II. Trop.
- A. To strike into, to inspire with, inflict, excite, produce terror, disturbance, etc.
- (α) With dat.: multis magnum metum, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 4, 2: terrorem alicui, Cic. Univ. 10 fin.: religionem animo, Liv. 22, 42, 9: alicui foedum nuntium, bring bad news, id. 2, 8, 7: animis subitam formidinem, Curt. 4, 13, 13: ingentem animo sollicitudinem, id. 3, 6, 5: desiderium urbis, Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 22: ne forte negoti Incutiat tibi quid sanctarum inscitia legum, should occasion trouble, id. S. 2, 1, 80.
- (β) Without dat.: timor incutitur aut ex ipsorum periculis aut ex communibus, Cic. de Or. 2, 51, 209.
- B. To shake, cause to tremble: crebrior incussit mentem pavor, Val. Fl. 5, 551.