I.to cause to totter, to shake, to overthrow (syn.: quatio, concutio).
I. Lit.: “signum vectibus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 49: “horrea bellicis machinis,” Suet. Ner. 38: “aedium fundamenta, Cod. Th. 10, 19, 14: phalangii morsus genua labefactat,” Plin. 29, 4, 27, § 86.—
B. Transf., in gen., to injure, weaken, ruin, destroy: “sensus,” Lucr. 1, 694: “onus gravidi ventris,” to procure an abortion, Ov. Am. 2, 13, 1: “colla boum,” to hurt, gall, Col. 2, 2, 22.—
II. Trop., to shake, throw down, overthrow, destroy, ruin, weaken (a favorite expression of Cic.): “animam,” Lucr. 6, 798: “aliquem,” Cic. Fam. 12, 25, 2; id. Dom. 12, 27; id. Div. in Caecil. 14, 44: “alicujus consulatum,” id. Mil. 13, 34: “alicujus dignitatem,” id. Rab. Post. 16, 44: “invidiā verbi orationem,” id. Fin. 1, 13, 43: “Aristoteles primus species labefactavit, quas mirifice Plato erat amplexatus,” id. Ac. 1, 9, 33: “conjurationem,” id. Cat. 4, 10, 22: “causam ad judicem,” id. Rosc. Com. 4, 13: “fidem,” Liv. 24, 20: “opinionem,” Cic. Clu. 2, 6; so, labefactare alone, to shake in purpose, move, cause to yield: “me video ab ea astute labefactarier,” Ter. Eun. 3, 3, 3: “labefacto paulatim (sc. eum),” Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 68: “non illam rarae labefactes munere vestis,” corrupt, Cat. 69, 3, cf.: “castimoniam viduae, Cod. Th. 9, 25, 1: rem publicam,” Cic. Fin. 1, 13, 43: “maximas res publicas ab adulescentibus labefactatas ... reperietis,” id. Sen. 6, 20; cf.: “Carthaginem et Corinthum,” id. Rep. 2, 4, 7: labefactarat vehementer aratores superior annus, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 18, § 47: “amicitiam aut justitiam labefactare atque pervertere,” id. Fin. 3, 21, 70: “leges ac jura,” id. Caecin. 25, 70: “alicujus fidem pretio,” id. Clu. 68, 194: “provinciarum fidem,” Tac. A. 13, 21: “(praecepta) labefactari aliqua parte,” Quint. 2, 13, 14.
