I.inf. parag. pulsarier, Lucr. 4, 931), 1, v. freq. a. id., to push, strike, beat (cf.: tundo, ferio, pello).
I. Lit.: “cum pulsetur agiteturque incursione atomorum sempiternā,” Cic. N. D. 1, 41, 114: “semine in pila pulsato,” Plin. 19, 8, 45, § 158: “lictores ad pulsandos verberandosque homines exercitatissimi,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142; cf.: “pulsari alios et verberari,” id. ib. 2, 3, 26, § “66: pulsatus parens,” Verg. A. 6, 609: “legatos pulsasse dicebantur,” Liv. 38, 42; Tac. H. 4, 45: “ubi tu pulsas, ego vapulo tantum,” Juv. 3, 289: “ostium,” to knock, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 1, 7: “ostia,” Hor. S. 1, 1, 10; cf. “ostiatim,” Quint. 5, 10, 122: “fores,” Ov. M. 5, 448; so, “pulso alone: pulsate, et aperietur vobis,” Vulg. Matt. 7, 7: “humum ter pede,” to stamp upon the ground, Ov. F. 6, 330: “gyrum pulsat equis,” Prop. 4, 13, 11; cf.: “tellurem pede libero,” Hor. C. 1, 37, 1: “prata choreis,” Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 381.—Of military engines: “ariete muros,” Verg. A. 12, 706: “ariete turres,” Sil. 16, 696: “moenia Romae,” id. 6, 643: “cuspide portas,” id. 12, 565: “pulsabant turrim ariete,” Amm. 20, 11, 21: “moenia Leptitana,” id. 28, 6, 15.—Of musical instruments: “chordas digitis et pectine eburno,” to strike, play upon, Verg. A. 6, 647: “chelyn,” Val. Fl. 1, 139: “pectine nervos,” Sil. 5, 463: “cymbala,” Juv. 9, 62.—Of things: “pulsant arva ligones,” Ov. Am. 3, 10, 31; id. M. 11, 529: “nervo pulsante sagittae,” Verg. G. 4, 313.—
B. Transf., to strike against, to strike, touch any thing (poet.): “ipse arduus altaque pulsat Sidera,” Verg. A. 3, 619; 10, 216; Sil. 9, 450: “vasto qui vertice nubila pulsat,” Val. Fl. 4, 149.—Of abstract subjects: “ululatus pulsat aures,” Claud. B. Get. 625.—
II. Trop.
A. In gen., to urge or drive on, to impel, to set in violent motion, to move, agitate, disturb, disquiet: “dormientium animos,” Cic. Div. 2, 58, 120: “multa in unum locum confluunt, quae meum pectus pulsant,” Plaut. Ep. 4, 1, 3: “quae te vecordia pulsat,” Ov. M. 12, 228: “corda pavor pulsans,” Verg. G, 3, 105; cf.: “curru Phoebe medium pulsabat Olympum,” id. A. 10, 216: “variā meritos formidine pulsant,” Val. Fl. 3, 390: “urbes rumoribus,” to disturb, Petr. p. 679: “invidia pulsat pectus,” Sen. Agam. 134: “aliquem querelis,” Stat. Th. 8, 249; cf.: astra querelis, Claud. in Eutr. 2, prooem. § 51:“ superos vocibus,” Sen. Herc. Oet. 1671.—
B. In partic.
1. To attack before a tribunal, i. e. to arraign, accuse: “ex contractu ejus obligatus, pro quo pulsabatur,” Dig. 11, 1, 11: “non imponitur necessitas aliis pulsantibus respondere,” ib. 5, 1, 2 med.—
2. Transf., in gen., to accuse, defame: “pulsari crimine falso,” Claud. B. Gild. 170: “injusta Tartara,” to accuse, charge, Stat. S. 5, 5, 77: “apud principis aures existimationem viri fortis invidiā gravi pulsarent,” Amm. 18, 4, 4.—
C. To drive away, remove, put out of the way, Dig. 19, 2, 15, § 1: “pericula,” Claud. VI. Cons. Hon. 465.—
D. To injure, insult: “pulsatos infecto foedere divos,” Verg. A. 12, 286: “pulsatae majestatis imperii reus,” of treason, Amm. 14, 7, 7.