I.v. a., to terrify greatly, to frighten (not freq. before the Aug. per.; esp. freq. in Livy); constr. with abl. or absol.
(α).
With abl.: pectora vulgi metu, * Lucr. 2, 623: loquacitatem nostram vultu ipso aspectuque, * Cic. de Or. 1, 49, 214; cf. Verg. A. 3, 597: “cervum subito vocibus venantum,” Phaedr. 1, 12, 7: “atrox ingenium eo facto (opp. accendere),” Liv. 3, 11, 9; cf.: “animos eā re (opp. irritare),” id. 40, 39, 2: “eos seditioso clamore,” id. 2, 39, 9: “periculo,” id. 2, 12, 12: “atrocitate poenae,” Suet. Dom. 11.—
(β).
Without abl.: “qui praeter Nioben unam conterruit omnes,” Ov. M. 6, 287: “insolitos ejus tumultus equos,” Liv. 10, 28, 9: “major solito apparatus praecipue conterruit Campanos, ne ab obsidione Capuae bellum ejus anni Romani inciperent,” id. 24, 12, 1; Suet. Ner. 6; 49 al.
