Lewis & Short

per-mulcĕo, mulsi, sum, and ctum, 2, v. a., to rub gently, to stroke.

  1. I. Lit.: ut pulverem Manibus isdem, quibus Ulixi saepe permulsi, abluam, Pac. ap. Gell. 2, 26, 13 (Trag. Rel. p. 90 Rib.); so, aliquem manu, Ov F. 4, 551: capite permulso, Varr. ap. Prisc. p. 871 P.: barbam, Liv. 5, 41: alicui malas, Suet. Ner. 1: comas, Ov. M. 2, 733.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. To touch gently: aram flatu permulcet spiritus austri, blows softly upon, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 44, 114: arteriae leni voce permulsae, Auct. Her. 3, 12, 21: medicatā lumina virgā, Ov. M. 1, 716; Cat. 62, 162.
      2. 2. To soften: cera picem lenitate permulcet, Pall. 10, 11, 2.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. To charm, please, delight, flatter, fondle: sensum voluptate, Cic. Fin. 2, 10, 32: aures, id. Or. 49, 163: aliquem permulcere atque allicere, id. de Or. 2, 78, 315: aures cantibus, Sil. 11, 292: his verbis vacuas permulceat auris, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 26.
    2. B. To soothe, appease, allay, tame: eorum animis permulsis et confirmatis, Caes. B. G. 4, 6: pectora dictis, Verg. A. 5, 816: liberalibus verbis permulcti sunt, Sall. Fragm. ap. Prisc. p. 871 P.: iram alicujus, Liv. 39, 23: aliquem mitibus verbis, Tac. A. 2, 34: comitate militem, id. ib. 1, 29: animos, Lucr. 5, 21: senectutem, to mitigate, Cic. Sen. 2, 4.