I.to bend, bow, curve.
I. Lit.: “cum ferrum se inflexisset,” Caes. B. G. 1, 25: “bacillum,” Cic. Div. 1, 17: “capillum leniter,” Suet. Aug. 79. —Mid.: “sinus ad urbem inflectitur,” bends itself, curves round, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 12, § 30: “montes inflexi theatrali modo,” Plin. 4, 8, 15, § 30: “nullum cursus sui vestigium,” to turn aside, Cic. N. D. 2, 19, 49.—
B. In partic.
1. To change, alter, modulate, mitigate a tone: “voces cantu,” Tib. 1, 8, 37: “vox inflexa,” a plaintive tone, Cic. Or. 17 fin.; Mart. Cap. 3, § 268 sqq.—
2. In gram., to mark or pronounce with a circumflex accent, Arn. 1, p. 44; cf.: “agite, equi, facitote sonitus ungularum appareat: Cursu celeri facite inflexa sit pedum pernicitas,” i.e. beat quick time with your feet, Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 113.—
II. Trop., to change, affect, aller, pervert: “solus hic inflexit sensus,” Verg. A. 4, 22: jus civile gratiā, Cic. Caecin. 26, 73: orationem, manner or style of speaking, id. Brut. 9, 38: “magnitudinem animi,” to lessen, id. Fam. 1, 7.
