I.to tread something or upon something, to tread under foot.
I. In gen.
A. Lit. (very freq.; mostly poet. or in post-Aug. prose; “not in Cic.)' astructos morientum acervos,” Ov. M. 5, 88; 12, 391: “calcata vipera,” trodden upon, id. ib. 10, 23; 12, 391; “13, 804: alius manum aeger, ut pede ac vestigio Caesaris calcaretur, orabat,” Tac. H. 4, 81: “cineres ossaque legionum,” id. ib. 5, 17: “calcata lacinia togae,” Suet. Calig. 35: uvam, to tread grapes, Cato, R. R. 112 fin.; Varr. R. R. 1, 54, 2; Ov. M. 2, 29; id. F. 4, 897; Col. 6, 15, 1.—To stamp, beat: “in mortario,” Apic. 2, 3: “solum ferratis vectibus,” Plin. 36, 23, 52, § 173.—
B. Trop.
1. To tread down, to oppress, trample upon (the figure is taken from a victorious warrior who tramples upon his prostrate opponents): “amorem,” Ov. Am. 3, 11, 5; cf. “hostem,” Juv. 10, 86: “gentem,” Just. 12, 16, 11: “libertas nostra in foro obteritur et calcatur,” Liv. 34, 2, 2: “calcatum jus,” Claud. in Eutr. 2, 125.—
2. To scorn, contemn, spurn, despise, abuse: “insultetque rogis, calcet et ossa mea,” Prop. 2, 8, 20: “aliquid quasi fastidiendo calcare,” Quint. 5, 13, 22: “calcatum foedus,” Stat. Th. 3, 208.—
II. Esp.
A. Of objects in space, to tread, pass over: calcanda semel via leti, * Hor. C. 1, 28, 16; Petr. 118, 5: “scopulos, litora,” Ov. H. 2, 121: “durum aequor,” the frozen sea, id. Tr. 3, 10, 39: “campum,” Claud. VI. Cons Hon. 515: “calcatos lucos Jovi,” frequented by, Sil. 3, 675.—
B. Of the cock, to tread, Col. 8, 5, 24.—
C. In gen., to press close together, to press in: “oleas in orculam calcato,” Cato, R. R. 117 fin.: “tomentum in culcita,” Varr. L. L. 5, § 167 Müll.; Cato, R. R. 52, 1; 28, 2; Pall. Jan. 20; Plin. 36, 23, 52, § 173; Verg. G. 2, 244.
