I.to touch sharply, to feel, handle (post-Aug.; but cf. taxatio; syn.: tango, tracto).
I. Lit. (very rare): “taxare pressius crebriusque est quam tangere, unde procul dubio id inclinatum est,” Gell. 2, 6, 5; cf. Macr. S. 6, 7; Fest. pp. 356 and 357 Müll.—
II. Trop.
A. To twit, censure, reproach, charge, or tax with a fault, etc.: “Cassius Parmensis quādam epistolā sic taxat Augustum: Materna tibi farina, etc.,” Suet. Aug. 4: “divortium suum cum uxore,” id. Dom. 10: in piris taxatur superbia cognomine, i. e. they are called superba, Plin. 15, 15, 16, § 53.—
B. To rate, value, appraise, estimate, determine the worth of a thing (qs. by feeling of or handling it; cf. “aestimo, to judge of the value, etc.): chrysocolla aspera taxatur in libras denariis septem,” Plin. 33, 5, 27, § 90: “talentum Attieum denariis sex millibus taxat Varro,” id. 35, 11, 40, § 136: senatorum cen sum ampliavit ac pro octingentorum milium summa duodecies HS. taxavit, Suet. Aug. 41; “taxato prius modo summae,” id. Calig. 38 et saep. —
C. To judge of, estimate, compute, reckon, etc., Plin. 6, 33, 38, § 207; cf.: “totum sinum quatridui navigatione in longitudinem taxavit,” id. 6, 28, 33, § 163: “modii duo anulorum Carthaginem missi, dignitasque equestris taxata mensura,” Flor. 2, 6, 18: “timorem tuum taxa,” Sen. Ep. 24, 2; cf.: “tanti quodque malum est, quanti illud taxavimus,” id. Cons. ad Marc. 19, 1: “uni sapienti notum est, quanti res quaeque taxanda sit,” id. Ep. 81, 7: “taxata stipendio hiberna,” Flor. 1, 12, 8: “scelera taxantur modo majore,” more severely punished, Sen. Herc. Fur. 746.
