prōpulso, āvi, ātum, 1, v. freq. a. [propello], to drive back, keep or ward off, to repel, repulse (class.).
- I. Lit.: lupos, Varr. R. R. 2, 9: hostem, Caes. B. G. 1, 49: populum ab ingressione fori, Cic. Phil. 5, 4, 9: et aquas hiemis et vapores aestatis propulsare radicibus, Col. 3, 15, 4; 7, 12, 3.
Absol.: ibi resistere ac propulsare, Sall. J. 51, 1.
- II. Trop., to ward off, avert, repel: frigus, famem propulsare, Cic. Fin. 4, 25, 71: periculum capitis legum praesidio, id. Clu. 52, 144: suspicionem a se, id. Verr. 2, 3, 60, § 140: bellum ab urbe ac moenibus, Liv. 3, 69; 28, 44: morbos exquisitis remediis, Col. 6, 5: violentiam vini, Gell. 15, 2, 6: praesidio vim propulsaturus, Curt. 10, 8, 4.