(adj.adv.) : mordax, ācis, adj.mordeo
* Biting, given to biting, snappish (poet. and in postAug. prose).
* Lit.: canis,Plaut. Bacch. 5, 2, 27: equus, Labeo ap. Gell. 4, 2: asinus,App. M. 8, p. 213 init.: Memmius, Auct. ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 59, 240.—Poet.: fibula,Sid. Carm. 5, 18.
* Transf., stinging, sharp, biting, pungent: urtica,stinging,Ov. A. A. 2, 417: arista mordacior hordeo,Plin. 18, 7, 10, § 61: mordacissima marga,id. 17, 8, 4, § 45: mordaci icta ferro Pinus,biting, deepcutting,Hor. C. 4, 6, 9: pumex,Ov. A. A. 1, 506: pulvis,corrosive,Plin. 15, 29, 37, § 123: fel,biting, sharp,Ov. P. 3, 3, 106: acetum,sharp, pungent,Pers. 5, 86: sucus,Plin. 25, 8, 50, § 89.
* Trop., biting, disposed to bite.
* Of persons: Cynicus,biting, snarling,Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 18: lividus et mordax,id. S. 1, 4, 93.
* Of inanim. and abstr. things: carmen,Ov. Tr. 2, 563: invidia,Phaedr. 5 prol. 8: verum,Pers. 1, 107: sollicitudines,biting, carking,Hor. C. 1, 18, 4: belle interim subicitur pro eo, quod neges, aliud mordacius,a more stinging assertion,Quint. 6, 3, 74.—Hence, adv.: mordācĭter, bitingly (poet. and postclass. prose), Macr. S. 7, 3, 8.—Comp.: neque enim in nobis febris alias partes mordacius impellit, sed per omnia pari aequalitate discurrit,Sen. Q. N. 6, 15, 3: limā mordacius uti,more sharply,Ov. P. 1, 5, 19: scribere,Lact. 5, 2, 12.

s. TLL