in-sculpo (inscalp-), psi, ptum, 3, v. a., to cut or carve in or upon, to engrave.
- I. Lit.
- (α) With dat. (poet. and in postAug. prose): summam patrimonii saxo (shortly before, incidere), Hor. S. 2, 3, 90: litteras tabellae, Quint. 1, 1, 27: elogium tumulo, Suet. Claud. 1: incisa et insculpta sunt publicis aeternisque monumentis praetoria ornamenta Pallantis, Plin. Ep. 8, 6, 14: usus luxuriantis aetatis signaturas pretiosis gemmis coepit insculpere, Macr. S. 7, 13, 11.
- (β) With abl. (very rare): columna aenea insculptum, Liv. 2, 33, 9.
- (γ) Absol. (with abl. of manner): ara cum ingenti titulo Punicis Graecisque litteris insculpto, Liv. 28, 46, 16.
- II. Trop., to engrave, imprint: natura insculpsit in mentibus, ut deos aeternos et beatos haberemus, Cic. N. D. 1, 17, 45: omnibus enim innatum est et in animo quasi insculptum, esse deos, id. ib. 1, 4, 12: in animo, id. Ac. 2, 1, 2.