I.v. a., to tear or cleave asunder, to cut asunder, divide, rend, tear (class.—for syn. cf.: findo, scindo, dirimo, divello, separo, secerno).
I. Lit.: “salicem Graecam discindito,” Cato R. R. 40, 2: “vestem,” Ter. Ad. 1, 2, 4 (quoted Cic. Cael. 16, 38); Suet. Caes. 84; id. Ner. 42 al.; cf. “tunicam,” Cic. de Or. 2, 47, 195: “purpureos amictus manu,” Verg. A. 12, 602: “labrum,” Ter. Ad. 4, 2, 20; cf.: “maxillam ictu,” Suet. Calig. 58: “artus,” Verg. G. 3, 514: “nubem (vis venti),” Lucr. 6, 436: “cotem novaculā,” Cic. Div. 1, 17, 32; Liv. 1, 36; cf.: “trabes aut saxa securibus cuneisque,” Tac. H. 5, 6 fin.: “cunctantem flagellis,” Suet. Calig. 33 et saep.—Absol.: “nulli penitus discindere ferro contigit,” Luc. 1, 31.—
II. Trop.: “discissa cum corpore vis animai,” Lucr. 3, 639: “tales amicitiae sunt remissione usus eluendae et dissuendae magis quam discindendae,” Cic. Lael. 21, 76: “omnis oratio aut continua est aut inter respondentem et interrogantem discissa,” interrupted, divided, Sen. Ep. 89, 16.—Rarely of persons: “discissi studiis turbulentis,” Amm. 25, 5; cf. id. 22, 5; 28, 4 fin.
