I.perf. FVLCIVIT, Inscr. ap. Mur. 466, 3.—Part. perf.: “fulcītus,” Cael. Aur. Tard. 2, 1, 46), v. a. etym. dub.; cf.: falx, flccto; Corss. refers it to root dhar-; v. firmus, Ausspr. 1, 476, to prop up, to keep upright by props, to stay, support (class.; syn.: sustento, sustineo, munio).
I. Lit.: “qui fulcire putatur porticum Stoicorum,” Cic. Ac. 2, 24, 75: “aliquid trabibus,” Plin. 36, 13, 19, § 89: “Atlas, caelum qui vertice fulcit,” Verg. A. 4, 247: “vitis nisi fulta est, fertur ad terram,” Cic. de Sen. 15, 52: “ruentes ceras,” Plin. 11, 10, 10, § 23: “illum Balbutit Scaurum pravis fultum male talis,” supported, Hor. S. 1, 3, 48; cf. id. ib. 1, 2, 88: “quod non Taenariis domus est mihi fulta columnis,” Prop. 3 (4), 1, 49. “longis Numidarum fulta columnis cenatio,” Juv. 7, 182; 3, 193: “si mutuatus pecuniam aedificia ruentia fulserit,” Gai. Inst. 4, 73: “me prior fultusque toro meliore,” Juv. 3, 82: et pulvino fultus, supported by, resting on the pillow, Lucil. ap. Serv. Verg. E. 6, 53: “ille (juvencus) latus niveum molli fultus byacintho,” Verg. E. 6, 53; cf. effultus; so absol.: “colloco, fulcio,” Plaut. Cas. 5, 2, 10: “caput nivei fultum Pallantis,” propped up, bolstered, Verg. A. 11, 39.— Impers.: “sat sic fultumst mihi,” Plaut. Stich. 1, 2, 37.—Poet.: “tu (potes) pedibus teneris positas fulcire pruinas?” i. e. to tread the fallen snow, Prop. 1, 8, 7: “stant fulti pulvere crines,” supported, stiffened, Stat. Th. 3, 326.—
B. Transf., to make strong or fast, to fasten, secure, support, strengthen (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “fultosque emuniit obice postes,” fastened, guarded, Verg. A. 8, 227; cf.: “appositā janua fulta serā,” Ov. A. A. 2, 244: “et dura janua fulta sera,” Tib. 1, 2, 6: “omnia debet cibus integrare novando Et fulcire cibus, cibus omnia sustentare,” to support, strengthen, Lucr. 2, 1147: “stomachum cibo,” Sen. Ep. 68 med.: “venas cadentes vino,” id. ib. 95; cf. Col. 6, 24, 4.—
II. Trop.
A. To support, sustain, uphold: “veterem amicum suum labentem excepit, fulsit et sustinuit re, fortuna, fide,” Cic. Rab. Post. 16, 43; cf.: “labantem et prope cadentem rem publicam fulcire,” id. Phil. 2, 21, 51: “domum pluribus adminiculis ante fundatam fulcit ac sustinet,” Plin. Ep. 4, 21, 3; “cf: ingenia rudia nullisque artium bonarum adminiculis fulta,” Gell. 6, 2, 8: “hoc consilio et quasi senatu fultus et munitus,” Cic. Rep. 2, 9: “aliquem litteris,” id. Att. 5, 21, 14: “magnis subsidiis fulta res publica est,” id. Fam. 12, 5, 1: “imperium gloria fultum et benevolentiā sociorum,” id. Off. 3, 22, 88: “his fultus societatibus atque amicitiis,” Liv. 42, 12, 8; 3, 60, 9; Plin. Ep. 9, 13, 11; cf.: “quia nullis recentibus subsidiis fulta prima acies fuit,” Liv. 9, 32, 9: “quo praesidio cum fulta res Romana esset,” id. 7, 12, 8: “causa Gaditanorum gravissimis et plurimis rebus est fulta,” Cic. Balb. 15, 35: “serie fulcite genus,” i. e. to keep up, preserve, Prop. 4 (5), 11, 69.—*
B. Poet., to besiege, oppress: “(Pacuvii) Antiopa aerumnis cor luctificabile fulta,” Pers. 1, 78 (perh. a word of Pacuv.).