I. A goad for driving cattle, slaves, etc. (class., esp. in the trop. sense).
A. Lit.: “jam lora teneo, jam stimulum in manu: Agite equi, etc.,” Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 112: “parce, puer, stimulis, et fortius utere loris,” Ov. M. 2, 127: “aut stimulo tardos increpuisse boves,” Tib. 1, 1, 30 (12); cf. Ov. M. 14, 647: “ita te forabunt patibulatum per vias Stimulis,” Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 54: “aliquem stimulo fodere,” id. Curc. 1, 2, 40: “dum te stimulis fodiam,” Cic. Phil. 2, 34, 86: “numquam stimulo lacessat juvencum,” Col. 2, 2, 26.—As a term of abuse of slaves: “stimulorum seges,” Plaut. Aul. 1, 1, 6; cf. id. Cas. 2, 8, 11: “stimulorum tritor,” id. Pers. 5, 2, 17.—Prov.: “si stimulos pugnis caedis, manibus plus dolet,” i. e. an evil is aggravated by foolish opposition, Plaut. Truc. 4, 2, 55; cf.: “advorsum stimulum calces,” kick against the pricks, Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 28.—
B. Trop., a goad (as in Engl., either that which vexes, irritates, torments, or, more freq., that which spurs on, incites, stimulates).
1. A sting, torment, pang: “mens sibi conscia factis ... adhibet stimulos torretque flagellis,” Lucr. 3, 1019; cf.: “subesse caecum aliquem cordi stimulum,” id. 3, 874: “ne illa stimulum longum habet, quae usque illinc cor pungit meum,” Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 79: “stimulos doloris contemnere,” Cic. Tusc. 2, 27, 66; cf.: “(res malae) lacerant, vexant, stimulos admovent, etc.,” id. ib. 3, 16, 35: “stimulos in pectore caecos Condidit,” Ov. M. 1, 726.—
2. A spur, incentive, incitement, stimulus: “animum gloriae stimulis concitare,” Cic. Arch. 11, 29: “quidam industriae ac laboris (with illecebrae libidinum),” id. Cael. 5, 12: “quot stimulos admoverit homini victoriae studioso,” id. Sest. 5, 12; cf.: “defendendi Vatinii,” id. Fam. 1, 9, 19: “omnia pro stimulis facibusque ciboque furoris Accipit,” Ov. M. 6, 480: “ardet, et injusti stimulis agitatur amoris,” id. F. 2, 779: “non hostili modo odio sed amoris etiam stimulis,” Liv. 30, 14, 1: “ad hanc voluntatem ipsius naturae stimulis incitamur,” Cic. Rep. 1, 2, 3: “ad dicendum etiam pudor stimulos habet,” Quint. 10, 7, 16: “agrariae legis tribuniciis stimulis plebs furebat,” Liv. 2, 54; cf.: “acriores quippe aeris alieni stimulos esse,” id. 6, 11: “subdere stimulos animo,” id. 6, 34: “in aliquem stimulis accendi,” Tac. H. 3, 45; cf.: “suis stimulis excitos Moesiae duces,” id. ib. 3, 53: “secundae res acrioribus stimulis animos explorant,” id. ib. 1, 15: “acres Subjectat lasso stimulos,” Hor. S. 2, 7, 94: “stimulos sub pectore vertit Apollo,” Verg. A. 6, 101: “movere acres stimulos irarum,” Luc. 2, 324: “accensae stimulis majoribus irae,” Stat. Th. 11, 497: “dare stimulos laudum,” id. Achill. 1, 203.—
