morsus (noun M) : mordeo
* A biting, a bite.
* 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, 112; so, zonam morsu tenere,by the teeth,Juv. 14, 297.
* Transf.
* 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.
* 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.

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

s. TLL