I.fut. perf. pepugero, Att. ap. Gell. 7, 9, 10; perf. punxi, acc. to Diom. p. 369 P.: “pupungi, in pungit, punxit, pupungit,” Not. Tir. p. 131; scanned pŭpūgi, Prud. στεφ. 9, 59), v. a. root pug-, to thrust, strike, whence also pugil, pugnus; Gr. πύξ, etc., to prick, puncture (class.).
I. Lit.: “aliquem,” Cic. Sest. 10, 24: “acu comatoriā mihi malas pungebat,” Petr. 21: “vulnus quod acu punctum videretur,” Cic. Mil. 24, 65.—
B. Transf. *
1. To pierce into, penetrate, enter: “corpus,” Lucr. 2, 460 (v. the passage in connection).—
2. To affect sensibly, to sting, bite: ut pungat colubram: cum pupugerit, etc., Varr. ap. Prisc. p. 894 P.: “pungunt sensum,” Lucr. 4, 625: “aliquem manu,” to pinch, Petr. 87 fin.: “nitrum adulteratum pungit,” has a pungent taste, Plin. 31, 10, 46, § 114.—
II. Trop., to prick, sting, vex, grieve, trouble, disturb, afflict, mortify, annoy, etc.: “scrupulus aliquem stimulat ac pungit,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 2, 6: “epistula illa ita me pupugit, ut somnum mihi ademerit,” id. Att. 2, 16, 1: “jamdudum meum ille pectus pungit aculeus,” Plaut. Trin. 4, 2, 158: “pungit me, quod scribis, etc.,” Cic. Fam. 7, 15, 1: “si paupertas momordit, si ignominia pupugit,” id. Tusc. 3, 34, 82: “quos tamen pungit aliquid,” id. ib. 5, 35, 102: “odi ego, quos numquam pungunt suspiria somnos,” Prop. 3, 8 (4, 7), 27. —Hence, punctus , a, um, P. a., pricked in, like a point; hence, of time: puncto tempore (cf.: puncto temporis; v. infra), in an instant, in a moment (only in Lucr.), Lucr. 2, 263; 456; 1006; 4, 216; 6, 230.—Hence, subst. in two forms.
I. punctum , i, n., that which is pricked or pricked in, a point, small hole, puncture.
A. Lit. (very rare), Mart. 11, 45, 6.—
B. Transf.
1. A point, small spot (as if made by pricking): “ova punctis distincta,” Plin. 10, 52, 74, § 144: “gemma sanguineis punctis,” id. 37, 8, 34, § 113: “puncta quae terebrantur acu,” Mart. 11, 46, 2: “ferream frontem convulnerandam praebeant punctis,” i. e. with the marks of slavery, Plin. Pan. 35.—
b. In partic.
(β).
A mathematical point. Cic. Ac. 2, 36, 116.—
(γ).
A point or spot on dice: quadringenis in punctum sestertiis aleam lusit, Suet. Ner. 30; Aus. Prof. 1, 29.—
(δ).
A point or dot as the sign of a vote, made in a waxen tablet, before the introduction of separate ballots; “hence, transf.,” a vote, suffrage, ballot, Cic. Planc. 22, 53; id. Mur. 34, 72; id. Tusc. 2, 26, 62.—Hence, poet., applause, approbation: “omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci,” Hor. A. P. 343: “discedo Alcaeus puncto illius,” id. Ep. 2, 2, 99; Aus. Grat. Act. ad Grat. 5.—(ε) A point on the bar of a steelyard, indicating the weight: “diluis helleborum, certo compescere puncto nescius examen,” Pers. 5, 100.—
2. A small part of any thing divided or measured off, e.g.,
a. A small weight, Pers. 5, 100.—
b. A small liquid measure, Front. Aquaed. 25.—
c. A small portion of time, an instant, a moment (cf. momentum): “puncto temporis eodem,” in the same moment, Cic. Sest. 24, 53; cf.: “ne punctum quidem temporis,” id. Phil. 8, 7, 20; Ter. Phorm. 1, 4, 7: “nullo puncto temporis intermisso,” id. N. D. 1, 20, 52; Caes. B. C. 2, 14.—In plur.: “omnibus minimis temporum punctis,” Cic. N. D. 1, 24, 67: “animi discessus a corpore fit ad punctum temporis,” id. Tusc. 1, 34, 82: “temporis puncto omnes Uticam relinquunt,” Caes. B. C. 2, 25 fin.; Plin. Pan. 56: “horae,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 172: “diei,” Lucr. 4, 201.—Rarely absol.: “punctum est quod vivimus et adhuc puncto minus,” Sen. Ep. 49, 14, 3: “puncto brevissimo dilapsa domus,” App. M. 9, p. 235, 30; cf.: “quod momentum, quod immo temporis punctum, aut beneficio sterile aut vacuum laude,” Plin. Pan. 56, 2; Vulg. Isa. 54, 7.—
d. In space, a point: “ipsa terra ita mihi parva visa est, ut me imperii nostri, quo quasi punctum ejus attingimus, poeniteret,” Cic. Rep. 6, 16, 16.—
e. In discourse, a small portion, brief clause, short section, Cic. Par. prooem. § 2; id. de Or. 2, 41, 177; Aus. Idyll. 12 prooem.—
II. puncta , ae, f. (very rare), a prick, puncture, Veg. Mil. 1, 12.