I.to strike, beat, esp. with a noise.
I. In gen. (poet.; cf. “plaudo): fluctus plangentes saxa,” Lucr. 2, 1155; 6, 115: “moribundo vertice terram,” Ov. M. 12, 118: “humum,” id. H. 16, 334: “quanto planguntur litora fluctu!” id. ib. 19, 121: “tympana palmis,” Cat. 64, 261: “nunc (Boreas) ipsas alis planget stridentibus Alpes,” Sil. 1, 588.—Pass., of a bird when caught: “plangitur,” beats with its wings, Ov. M. 11, 75.—
II. In partic., to beat the breast, head, etc., as a sign of grief (class.): “qui multis inspectantibus caput feriebas, femina plangebas, Cic. aer. alien. Mil. Fragm. 2, 4 (t. 11, p. 32 B. and K.): laniataque pectora plangens,” Ov. M. 6, 248: “femur maerenti dextrā,” id. ib. 11, 81: “lacertos,” id. ib. 9, 636: “pectus,” Petr. 111.—Pass. (= κόπτεσθαι): “scissaeque capillos Planguntur matres Calydonides Eveninae,” beat themselves for agony, Ov. M. 8, 526.—
B. Transf., to lament aloud, wring the hands; with aliquem or aliquid, to bewail a person or thing (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “planxere sorores Naïdes ... Planxere et Dryades: plangentibus absonat Echo,” Ov. M. 3, 505: “ab omni plangitur arce,” Stat. Th. 11, 417: “plangentia agmina,” Verg. A. 11, 145: “plangentium gemitus,” Just. 19, 2 fin.: “modo Sporum hortabatur ut lamentari ac plangere inciperet,” Suet. Ner. 49; id. Oth. 8: “plangentis populi derisor,” Juv. 6, 534.—With an object: “tendit palmas, ceu sit planctura relictam Andromedam,” Caes. Germ. Arat. 198; Val. Fl. 3, 297: “Memphiten bovem (i. e. Apim),” Tib. 1, 8, 27 (7, 28): “damna,” Stat. Th. 11, 117: “malum,” Claud. Rapt. Pros. 3, 159; Vulg. Judic. 11, 37.—Pass.: “virtutes quas neque lugeri neque plangi fas est,” Tac. Agr. 46: “majore tumultu Planguntur nummi quam funera,” Juv. 13, 131.