I.impers. (ante-class. and late Lat. also pers.; v. infra) [root plu-, to swim; Gr. πλύνω, to wash; cf.: πλέω, πλεύσω, to sail; cf. ploro], to rain; constr. absol., or with abl. or acc.
I. Lit.: “pluet credo hercle hodie,” Plaut. Curc. 1, 2, 42: “ut multum pluverat,” id. Men. prol. 63: has Graeci stellas Hyadas vocitare suerunt, a pluendo: ὕειν enim est pluere, Cic. N. D. 2, 43, 111: “aqua, quae pluendo crevisset,” by the rain, id. Top. 9, 38: “quoties pluit,” Juv. 7, 179: “urceatim plovebat (vulg. for pluebat),” Petr. 44, 18.—With acc.: “sanguinem pluisse senatui nuntiatum est,” Cic. Div. 2, 27, 58 (Klotz, sanguinem): “lapides,” Liv. 28, 27, 16: “terram,” id. 10, 33, 8; Vulg. Exod. 9, 23; 16, 4; id. Psa. 10, 7.—With abl.: “lacte pluisse,” rained milk, Liv. 27, 11: “lapidibus,” id. 35, 9; 21, 62, 5: “lacte, sanguine, carne,” Plin. 2, 56, 57, § 147.—Pass.: “quā pluitur et ningitur,” App. Flor. p. 340, 39.—Personally: “saxis ferunt pluisse caelum,” Mart. Cap. 6, § 642: “effigies quae pluit,” which rained, came down in rain, Plin. 2, 55, 57, § 147. —
II. Transf., of other things, to rain (poet.): “nec de concussā tantum pluit ilice glandis,” Verg. G. 4, 81: “stridentia fundae saxa pluunt,” Stat. Th. 8, 416: “jam bellaria adorea pluebant,” id. S. 1, 6, 10.