I.to butt like a ram; hence, in gen., to strike violently (poet. or post-Aug. prose, esp. freq. in Seneca).
I. A.. Act.: “quis illic est, qui tam proterve nostras aedes arietat?” beats so violently at, Plaut. Truc. 2, 2, 1: “arietare in terram,” Curt. 9, 7, 11: “arietata inter se arma,” Sen. Ep. 56: “arietatos inter se dentes, id. Ira, 3, 4: concurrentia tecta contrario ictu arietant,” Plin. 2, 82, 84, § 198 al. —
B. Trop., to disturb, harass, disquiet: “anima insolita arietari,” Sen. Tranq. 1, § 11 Haase.—
II. Neutr.: in me arietare, Att. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 22, 44: “arietat in portus,” Verg. A. 11, 890: “et labaris oportet et arietes et cadas,” to stumble, totter, Sen. Ep. 107.