aculeus

ăcūlĕus, i, m. [acc. to Prisc. 618 P. dim. from 1. acus, with the gender changed, like diecula fr. dies, cf. Val. Prob. 1463 P.], a sting.

I.

Lit.

A.

Of animals:

apis aculeum sine clamore ferre non possumus,

Cic. Tusc. 2, 22; so Plin. 11, 17, 17:

neparum,

Cic. Fin. 5, 15 al. —Also, the spur of fowls, Col. 8, 2, 8:

locustarum,

Vulg. Apoc. 9, 10.—

B.

Of plants, a spine or prickle:

spinarum,

Plin. 13, 9, 19:

carduorum,

id. 20, 23, 99.—

C.

Of an arrow or dart, the point, Liv. 38, 21, 11.—

II.

Fig., a sting.

A.

Of a sharp, cutting remark:

pungunt quasi aculeis interrogatiunculis,

Cic. Fin. 4, 3; so id. Ac. 2, 31; id. Planc. 24 al.; Liv. 23, 42, 5.—

B.

Of harsh treatment:

aculeos severitatis judicum evellere,

Cic. Clu. 55 fin.; so id. Cael. 12, 29.—

C.

Of painful thought or care:

meum ille pectus pungit aculeus, quid illi negoti fuerit ante aedīs meas, Plant. Trin. 4, 2, 158: domesticarum sollicitudinum,

Cic. Att. 1, 18.