I.torture, torment, a torturing, execution, etc. (often syn. with supplicium; freq. and class. in sing. and plur.).
I. Lit., of the body: “dedisti hodie in cruciatum Chrusalum,” Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 36; id. Ep. 5, 1, 5; id. Ps. 3, 1, 12; Ter. And. 4, 4, 47; id. Hec. 5, 2, 7; Caes. B. G. 1, 31, 12; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 4, § 9; 2, 5, 63, § 163; id. Rosc. Am. 41, 119; Sall. C. 51, 15; id. J. 24, 10; Liv. 29, 18, 14 Drak. N. cr.; Quint. 5, 4, 2; Ov. M. 9, 179 et saep.: “cruciatu malo dignus,” Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 132; id. Rud. 2, 6, 11.—
2. Of the mind: “animi,” Cic. Div. 2, 9, 23; cf.: “omnes animi cruciatus et corporis,” id. Cat. 4, 5, 10: “confectus jam cruciatu summorum dolorum,” id. Att. 11, 11, 1; Cic. Fil. ap. Cic. Fam. 16, 21, 2.—
B. In gen., ruin, calamity, misfortune (esp. in curses, etc.): “maximum in malum cruciatumque insiliamus,” into utter ruin, Plaut. Mil. 2, 3, 8: “cum cruciatu tuo istaec hodie verba funditas,” i. e. to thy ruin, misfortune, id. Am. 4, 2, 13; 2, 2, 161; id. Capt. 3, 5, 23: “abi in malum cruciatum,” go to the gallows, go hang, id. Aul. 3, 3, 11; id. Pers. 4, 4, 25; cf. crux, II.—
II. Transf., instruments of torture: “cum ignes ardentesque laminae ceterique cruciatus admovebantur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 63, § 163.
