I.to beat down, throw down; to overturn, upset (class.; syn.: percutio, deicio).
I. Lit.: ventus Cercius plaustrum oneratum percellit, Cato ap. Gell. 2, 22, 29; cf.: vento perculsam ratem, Afran. ap. Fest. p. 273 Müll. (Com. Rel. p. 154 fin. Rib.): magnas quercus, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 2 (Ann. v. 194 Vahl.): abietem, Varr. ap. Non. 152, 11: alii adnutat ... alii percellit pedem, Naev. ap. Isid. Orig. 1, 25 (Com. Rel. p. 17 Rib.): “perii! perculit me prope,” Plaut. Pers. 5, 2, 28; Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 87: “radicibus arborum,” Plin. 18, 34, 77, § 334: “Mars communis saepe spoliantem jam et exsultantem evertit et perculit ab abjecto,” Cic. Mil. 21, 56: “eos Martis vis perculit,” id. Marc. 6, 17.—Prov.: Perii, plaustrum perculi! I've upset my cart, i. e. I've done for myself, Plaut. Ep. 4, 2, 22.—
B. Transf., to strike, smite, hit: “fetiali Postumius genu femur perculit,” Liv. 9, 10 fin.; cf. id. 9, 11, 11: “aliquem cuspide,” Ov. Am. 2, 9, 7; 1, 7, 32.— Poet.: “vox repens perculit urbem,” struck, reached, Val. Fl. 2, 91.—
II. Trop.
A. To cast down, overthrow, ruin, destroy: “adulescentiam perculisse atque afflixisse,” Cic. Cael. 32, 80; id. Cat. 2, 1, 2; id. Leg. 3, 8, 24: “rem publicam,” Tac. A. 2, 39: “aliquem,” Suet. Tib. 55.—
B. To strike with consternation, to deject, daunt, dispirit, discourage, dishearten: “haec te vox non perculit? non perturbavit?” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 57, § 132: “timore perculsi membra,” Lucr. 5, 1223: “civitates atrocibus edictis,” Tac. H. 1, 53; Flor. 1, 10, 2: “animos (timor),” Val. Fl. 4, 651.—