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per-mulcĕo , mulsi, sum, and ctum, 2, v. a.,
I.to rub gently, to stroke.
I. Lit.: ut pulverem Manibus isdem, quibus Ulixi saepe permulsi, abluam, Pac. ap. Gell. 2, 26, 13 (Trag. Rel. p. 90 Rib.); so, aliquem manu, Ov F. 4, 551: capite permulso, Varr. ap. Prisc. p. 871 P.: “barbam,” Liv. 5, 41: “alicui malas,” Suet. Ner. 1: “comas,” Ov. M. 2, 733.—
B. Transf.
1. To touch gently: aram flatu permulcet spiritus austri, blows softly upon, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 44, 114: “arteriae leni voce permulsae,” Auct. Her. 3, 12, 21: “medicatā lumina virgā,” Ov. M. 1, 716; Cat. 62, 162.—
2. To soften: “cera picem lenitate permulcet,” Pall. 10, 11, 2.—
II. Trop.
A. To charm, please, delight, flatter, fondle: “sensum voluptate,” Cic. Fin. 2, 10, 32: “aures,” id. Or. 49, 163: “aliquem permulcere atque allicere,” id. de Or. 2, 78, 315: “aures cantibus,” Sil. 11, 292: “his verbis vacuas permulceat auris,” Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 26.—
B. To soothe, appease, allay, tame: “eorum animis permulsis et confirmatis,” Caes. B. G. 4, 6: “pectora dictis,” Verg. A. 5, 816: liberalibus verbis permulcti sunt, Sall. Fragm. ap. Prisc. p. 871 P.: “iram alicujus,” Liv. 39, 23: “aliquem mitibus verbis,” Tac. A. 2, 34: “comitate militem,” id. ib. 1, 29: “animos,” Lucr. 5, 21: “senectutem,” to mitigate, Cic. Sen. 2, 4.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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