I.to be stiff, numb, motionless, inactive, torpid, sluggish, etc. (syn.: langueo, languesco, stupeo, rigeo).
I. Lit.: “torpentes gelu,” Liv. 21, 56, 7; 21, 55, 8; cf.: “digitus torpens frigore,” Suet. Aug. 80: “languidi et torpentes oculi,” Quint. 11, 3, 76: “torpentes rigore nervi,” Liv. 21, 58, 9: “membra torpent,” Plin. 7, 50, 51, § 168; cf.: “torpentes membrorum partes,” id. 24, 4, 7, § 13: “torpent infractae ad proelia vires,” Verg. A. 9, 499: “duroque simillima saxo Torpet,” Ov. M. 13, 541: “quid vetat et nervos magicas torpere per artes?” id. Am. 3, 7, 35: “serpentes torpentes inveniantur,” Plin. 24, 16, 92, § 148: “hostem habes aegre torpentia membra trahentem,” Sil. 4, 68: “non eadem vini atque cibi torpente palato Gaudia,” Juv. 10, 203; cf.: “non exacuet torpens sapor ille palatum,” Ov. P. 1, 10, 13.—
B. Transf., of inanim. things, to be still, motionless, sluggish: “torpentes lacus,” Stat. Th. 9, 452: “amnis,” id. ib. 4, 172: “locus depressus hieme pruinis torpet,” Col. 1, 4, 10: “Orpheus tacuit torpente lyrā,” Sen. Med. 348: “antra Musarum longo torpentia somno,” Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, praef. 51; 1, 262.—
II. Trop., to be stupid, stupefied, astounded; to be dull, listless, inactive (cf. stupeo): “timeo, totus torpeo,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 179; cf.: “timore torpeo,” id. Truc. 4, 3, 50: “torpentibus metu qui aderant,” Liv. 28, 29, 11: “deum volumus cessatione torpere,” Cic. N. D. 1, 37, 102: “quidnam torpentes subito obstupuistis Achivi? id. poët. Div. 2, 30, 64: torpentes metu,” Liv. 28, 29, 11: “defixis oculis animoque et corpore torpet?” Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 14: “cum Pausiacā torpes tabellā,” when you are lost in admiration, id. S. 2, 7, 95: “nec torpere gravi passus sua regna veterno,” Verg. G. 1, 124: “frigere ac torpere senis consilia,” Liv. 6, 23, 7: “consilia re subitā,” id. 1, 41, 3: “torpebat vox spiritusque,” id. 1, 25, 4: “Tyrii desperatione torpebant,” Curt. 4, 3, 16: “rursus ad spem et fiduciam erigere torpentes,” id. 4, 10, 7; 4, 14, 13.