I. Act., to clap, strike, beat any thing (poet.; cf. “plango),” Verg. Cir. 179: “pectora manu,” Ov. M. 2, 866: “clipeum pectore,” Stat. Th. 7, 134: “aquas,” id. S. 1, 3, 74: “choreas pedibus,” to execute a choral dance, stamping with the feet, Verg. A. 6, 644: “plausis alis,” Ov. M. 14, 507; 14, 577.—
II. Neutr., to clap, strike, beat (of two bodies striking together).
A. In gen. (poet. and in postAug. prose): “alis Plaudentem figit sub nube columbam,” Verg. A. 5, 515: “pennis,” with her wings, Ov. M. 8, 238: “rostro,” id. ib. 6, 97. —Absol.: “aversas inter se manus collide, non plaudent,” Sen. Q. N. 2, 28.—
B. In partic.
1. To clap the hands in token of approbation, to applaud, clap (class.): “manus suas in plaudendo consumere,” Cic. Att. 16, 2, 3: “huic ita plausum est, ut salvā re publicā Pompeio plaudi solebat,” id. ib. 2, 19, 3.—In the theatre, at the close of the piece: nunc, spectatores, Jovis summi causā clare plaudite, Plaut. Am. fin.; id. Ep. fin.; cf.: “usque Sessuri, donec cantor, vos plaudite, dicat,” Hor. A. P. 155; and: “cum ventum est ad ipsum illud. quo veteres tragoediae comoediaeque clauduntur, Plodite,” Quint. 6, 1, 52 Spald. N. cr.; cf. also: manibus clare, Plaut. Cas. fin.: “spectavi ego pridem comicos ad istum modum Sapienter dicta dicere atque is plaudier,” id. Rud. 4, 7, 24: in aliquem, to express disapprobation of any one by clapping, pounding, stamping, i. e. to hiss him off, Min. Fel. Octav. 14.—
2. Transf., in gen., to express approbation, to approve, applaud: “plaudit sepultis,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 88: “dis hominibusque plaudentibus,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 4, 1; Juv. 3, 157: “funus,” id. 1, 146: sibi, to applaud one's self, to be satisfied or well contented with one's self: “populus me sibilat: at mihi plaudo Ipse domi,” Hor. S. 1, 1, 66: “nec ipse tibi plaudis,” Plin. Ep. 9, 14.—
3. To strike hands in completing a bargain: “stultus homo plaudet manibus,” Vulg. Prov. 17, 18.
