I. In gen., a striking or beating accompanied by a loud noise, a banging, rustling, roaring (postAug. and mostly poet.): unum omnes incessere planctibus, of the flappings of the Harpies' wings, Val. Fl. 4, 494: “tremuit perterritus aether Planctibus insolitis,” Petr. 136: planctus illisae cautibus undae, of the roaring of the waves, Luc. 6, 690.—
II. In partic., a beating of the breast, arms, and face in mourning; a wailing, lamentation, lament (syn.: “plangor, lamentum, ploratus): clamor barbaro ululatu planctuque permixtus,” Curt. 3, 12, 3: “lamentis et planctibus tota regia personabat,” id. 10, 5, 7; Sen. Cons. ad Marc. 6, 2; Val. Max. 2, 6, 7; Sen. Troad. 92: “pectora illiso sonent Contusa planctu,” id. Thyest. 1045: “verberabam aegrum planctibus pectus,” Petr. 81; Luc. 2, 23: “gemitus ac planctus,” groans and lamentations, Tac. A. 1, 41; Flor. 4, 1 med.: “et factus est planctus magnus in Israel,” Vulg. 1 Macc. 1, 26 et saep.
