morsus

1.

morsus, a, um, Part., from mordeo.

2.

morsus, ūs, m. [mordeo], a biting, a bite.

I.

Lit.: contra avium minorum morsus munitur vallo aristarum. Cic. Sen. 15, 51:

serpentis,

id. Fat. 16, 36:

morsu apprehendere,

to bite, Plin. 11, 24, 28, § 84:

morsibus insequi,

Ov. M. 13, 568:

morsu appetere,

Tac. H. 4, 42:

nec tu mensarum morsus horresce futuros,

the eating, Verg. A. 3, 394:

mucida frusta farinae... non admittentia morsum,

Juv. 5, 69:

vertere morsus Exiguam in Cererem penuria adegit edendi,

their bites, their teeth, id. ib. 7, [p. 1167] 112; so,

zonam morsu tenere,

by the teeth, Juv. 14, 297.—

B.

Transf.

1.

A catching hold; and, concr., that which takes hold, a catch (of a buckle, etc.; poet. ):

quā fibulā morsus Loricae crebro laxata resolverat ictu,

Sil. 7, 624:

roboris,

i. e. the cleft of the tree which held fast the javelin, Verg. A. 12, 782:

patulis agitatos morsibus ignes spirent,

Grat. Falisc. 270.—

2.

Sharpness of flavor, sharp taste, pungency:

nec cibus ipse juvat morsu fraudatus aceti,

Mart. 7, 25, 5:

marinus,

acrid quality, Plin. 36, 26, 65, § 191:

et scabros nigrae morsu rubiginis enses,

i. e. a corroding, consuming, Luc. 1, 243.—

II.

Trop., a bite, sting, pain, vexation, etc.:

(carmina) odio obscuro morsuque venenare,

a malicious attack, Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 38:

perpetui curarum morsus,

gnawings, pains, Ov. P. 1, 1, 73:

doloris,

a bite, sting, Cic. Tusc. 4, 7, 15:

libertatis intermissae,

id. Off. 2, 7, 24:

dubiā morsus famae depellere pugnā,

Sil. 2, 271.