I.to strike asunder, dash to pieces, shatter, etc.
I. In gen.: dentes, Lucil. ap. Non. 455, 18: “deum delubra,” Lucr. 6, 418; cf.: “columna rostrata tota ad imum fulmine discussa est,” Liv. 42, 20: “ne saxa ex catapultis lateritium discuterent,” Caes. B. C. 2, 9, 3; cf.: “aliquantum muri tribus arietibus,” Liv. 21, 12: rostro (navis) discusso, shattered, Auct. B. Alex. 46, 2; cf.: “tempora cava ictu,” Ov. M. 2, 625: “ora saxo,” id. ib. 4, 519: “percussam aquam,” Plin. 28, 8, 29, § 118: “nubes,” Ov. M. 15, 70: “discussae jubae capiti,” Verg. A. 9, 810 et saep.—
II. In partic.
A. In medic. lang., to scatter, disperse ( = digerere), Cels. 2, 17; 3, 15; Scrib. Comp. 43; Plin. 30, 15, 47, § 135 et saep. —
B. Pregn., to break up, scatter, disperse, dissipate.
1. Lit. (rarely): “illos coetus,” Liv. 2, 28; cf.: “Boeoticum consilium,” id. 42, 44: “sole orto est discussa (caligo),” id. 29, 27: “caligo,” Cic. Phil. 12, 2, 5; cf. “umbras (sol),” Verg. G. 3, 357; id. A. 12, 669: “discussa nox,” Luc. 5, 700.—Rarely with pers. objects: “Cato discutit Etruscos, Gabinius Marsos, etc.,” routs, subdues, Flor. 3, 18, 13; cf.: “hostiles turmae discussae,” Amm. 25, 1.—Far more freq. and class.,
2. Trop.: “terrorem animi tenebrasque,” to disperse, dispel, Lucr. 1, 148; 2, 61 al.; cf. Cic. de Or. 3, 57: “quod rem totam discusseram,” had frustrated, brought to naught, id. Q. Fr. 2, 12; “so freq.: rem,” Liv. 34, 56; 39, 10; Suet. Dom. 2 al.: “discutere et comprimere periculum consilio,” Cic. Mur. 39, 84; so, “periculum,” Liv. 2, 52; Front. Strat. 2, 11, 4: “captiones (shortly before: dissolvere interrogationes),” Cic. Ac. 2, 15, 46: omnem ejus cunctationem, Asin. Pollio ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 33, 2: “disceptationem,” Liv. 38, 13: “crimen alicujus,” Quint. 4, 2, 18: “famam,” Tac. H. 2, 9: “fidem,” Luc. 1, 119: “consilia hostium,” Front. Strat. 4, 7, 31: “seditionem,” id. ib. 1, 9, 2; Vell. 2, 81: “bellum (with sepelire),” id. 2, 75: “nefas,” Flor. 3, 18, 9 et saep. —Hence, * discussē , adv., only comp., minutely, accurately: “explorare discussius,” Mart. Cap. 9, § 891.!*? For the meaning to investigate, discuss (lit., to separate mentally, distinguish, as in disputare, discernere, etc.), which prevails in the post-class. derivatives: discussio, discussor, and discusse; as also in the Romance: discutere, discussare, discussione; discuter, discussion, etc., there appear to be no examples in the literary language.