I.v. dep. a., to stroke, to touch softly, to pat (poet. and in post-Aug. prose; syn. mulceo).
I. Lit.: “modo pectora praebet Virgineā palpanda manu,” Ov. M. 2, 867 Jahn N. cr.: “palpate lupos,” Manil. 5, 702: “cum equum permulsit quis vel palpatus est,” Dig. 9, 1, 1: tamquam si manu palpetur, Schol. Juv. 6, 196: animalia blandi manu palpata magistri, Prud. στεφ. 11, 91.—
II. Transf.
A. To caress, coax, wheedle, flatter.
(α).
Absol.: “hoc sis vide ut palpatur! nullus est quando occepit, blandior,” Plaut. Merc. 1, 2, 57; Lucil. ap. Non. 472, 6: “palpabo, ecquonam modo possim, etc.,” Cic. Att. 9, 9, 1: “nihil asperum tetrumque palpanti est,” Sen. Ira, 3, 8, 7.—
(β).
With dat.: “quam blande mulieri palpabitur,” Plaut. Am. 1, 3, 9: “cui male si palpere, recalcitrat undique tutus,” Hor. S. 2, 1, 20: scribenti palpare, Poll. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 33, 2.—
