I.v. in the foll.), morsum, 2, v. a. root smard-; Sanscr. mard-, bite; Gr. σμερδνός, σμερδαλέος; (cf. Engl. smart), to bite, to bite into (class.).
I. Lit.: si me canis memorderit, Enn. ap. Gell. 7, 9, 3 (Sat. v. 36 Vahl.): “canes mordere possunt,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 20, 57: “mordens pulex,” biting, Mart. 14, 83: “(serpens) fixum hastile momordit,” bit into, Ov. M. 3, 68: “mordeat ante aliquis quidquid, etc.,” taste, Juv. 6, 632: terram, to bite the ground, bite the dust, of expiring warriors writhing on the ground: “procubuit moriens et humum semel ore momordit,” Verg. A. 11, 418; Ov. M. 9, 61.—Part. as subst.: “morsi a rabioso cane,” Plin. 29, 5, 32, § 100: “laneaque aridulis haerebant morsa labellis,” Cat. 64, 316.—
2. In partic., to eat, devour, consume (poet.): “tunicatum cum sale mordens Caepe,” Pers. 4, 30: “ostrea,” Juv. 6, 305: “sordes farris mordere canini,” id. 5, 11.—
B. Transf.
1. To bite into, take fast hold of, catch fast; to press or cut into (poet.): “laterum juncturas fibula mordet,” takes hold of, clasps, Verg. A. 12, 274: “mordebat fibula vestem,” Ov. M. 8, 318: “id quod a lino mordetur,” where the thread presses in, Cels. 7, 4, 4: “locus (corporis), qui mucronem (teli) momordit,” id. 7, 5, 4: “arbor mordet humum,” takes hold of the ground, is rooted in the ground, Stat. Th. 9, 499.—Hence, poet., of a river: non rura quae Liris quieta Mordet aqua, cuts or penetrates into, Hor. C. 1, 31, 7.—
2. To nip, bite, sting: “matutina parum cautos jam frigora mordent,” nips, attacks, Hor. S. 2, 6, 45: oleamque momorderit aestus, id. Ep. 1, 8, 5: “mordeat et tenerum fortior aura nemus,” Mart. 8, 14, 2: “radix gustu acri mordet,” bites, hurts, Plin. 27, 13, 109, § 133: “linguam,” id. 29, 2, 9, § 34: “oculos,” id. 21, 6, 17, § 32: “urtica foliis non mordentibus,” stinging, burning, id. 22, 14, 16, § 37.—
II. Trop., to bite, sting, pain, hurt (syn.: pungo, stimulo, remordeo; “class.): invidere omnes mihi, Mordere clanculum,” bit, stung, Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 21: “morderi dictis,” Ov. Tr. 1, 1, 25: “jocus mordens,” a biting jest, Juv. 9, 10: “mordear opprobriis falsis,” shall I be stung, vexed, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 38: “par pari referto, quod eam mordeat,” to vex, mortify, Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 55: “valde me momorderunt epistolae tuae,” Cic. Att. 13, 12, 1: “scribis, morderi te interdum, quod non simul sis,” that it grieves you, affects you, id. ib. 6, 2, 8: “dolore occulto morderi,” to be attacked, tormented, Ov. M. 2, 806: “nec qui detrectat praesentia, Livor iniquo Ullum de nostris dente momordit opus,” detracted, id. Tr. 4, 10, 124; cf. id. P. 4, 14, 46: “morderi conscientiā,” to feel the sting of conscience, Cic. Tusc. 4, 20, 45: “hunc mordebit objurgatio,” Quint. 1, 3, 7.—
B. To seize fast, hold firmly in the mind (cf. mordicus, II.): “hoc tene, hoc morde,” Sen. Ep. 78, 29. —
C. To squander, dissipate: de integro patrimonio meo centum milia nummūm memordi, Laber. ap. Gell. 6, 9, 3 (Com. Rel. v. 50 Rib.).
