I.to make very sharp, to sharpen, make pointed (class.).
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.—
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.—
II. Trop.
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.—
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.
