(v. a.P. a.) : pungo, pŭpŭgi, punctum, 3 (old
* Fut. perf. pepugero, Att. ap. Gell. 7, 9, 10; perf. punxi, acc. to Diom. p. 369 P.: pupungi, in pungit, punxit, pupungit,Not. Tir. p. 131; scanned pŭpūgi, Prud. στεφ. 9, 59), v. a. root pug-, to thrust, strike, whence also pugil, pugnus; Gr. πύξ, etc., to prick, puncture (class.).
* Lit.: aliquem,Cic. Sest. 10, 24: acu comatoriā mihi malas pungebat,Petr. 21: vulnus quod acu punctum videretur,Cic. Mil. 24, 65.
* Transf. *
* Trop., to prick, sting, vex, grieve, trouble, disturb, afflict, mortify, annoy, etc.: scrupulus aliquem stimulat ac pungit,Cic. Rosc. Am. 2, 6: epistula illa ita me pupugit, ut somnum mihi ademerit,id. Att. 2, 16, 1: jamdudum meum ille pectus pungit aculeus,Plaut. Trin. 4, 2, 158: pungit me, quod scribis, etc.,Cic. Fam. 7, 15, 1: si paupertas momordit, si ignominia pupugit,id. Tusc. 3, 34, 82: quos tamen pungit aliquid,id. ib. 5, 35, 102: odi ego, quos numquam pungunt suspiria somnos,Prop. 3, 8 (4, 7), 27. —Hence, punctus, a, um, P. a., pricked in, like a point; hence, of time: puncto tempore (cf.: puncto temporis; v.infra), in an instant, in a moment (only in Lucr.), Lucr. 2, 263; 456; 1006; 4, 216; 6, 230.—Hence, subst. in two forms.
* Punctum, i, n., that which is pricked or pricked in, a point, small hole, puncture.
* To press, hasten: futura pungunt, nec se superari sinunt,Pub. Syr. v. 177 Rib.
* Puncta, ae, f. (very rare), a prick, puncture, Veg. Mil. 1, 12.
* Transf.
* A point, small spot (as if made by pricking): ova punctis distincta,Plin. 10, 52, 74, § 144: gemma sanguineis punctis,id. 37, 8, 34, § 113: puncta quae terebrantur acu,Mart. 11, 46, 2: ferream frontem convulnerandam praebeant punctis,i. e. with the marks of slavery,Plin. Pan. 35.
* In partic.
* A small part of any thing divided or measured off, e.g.
* A mathematical point.Cic. Ac. 2, 36, 116.
* A point or spot on dice: quadringenis in punctum sestertiis aleam lusit, Suet. Ner. 30; Aus. Prof. 1, 29.
* A point or dot as the sign of a vote, made in a waxen tablet, before the introduction of separate ballots; hence, transf.,a vote, suffrage, ballot,Cic. Planc. 22, 53; id. Mur. 34, 72; id. Tusc. 2, 26, 62.—Hence, poet., applause, approbation: omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci,Hor. A. P. 343: discedo Alcaeus puncto illius,id. Ep. 2, 2, 99; Aus. Grat. Act. ad Grat. 5.—(ε) A point on the bar of a steelyard, indicating the weight: diluis helleborum, certo compescere puncto nescius examen,Pers. 5, 100.
* A small weight, Pers. 5, 100.
* A small liquid measure, Front. Aquaed. 25.
* A small portion of time, an instant, a moment (cf. momentum): puncto temporis eodem,in the same moment,Cic. Sest. 24, 53; cf.: ne punctum quidem temporis,id. Phil. 8, 7, 20; Ter. Phorm. 1, 4, 7: nullo puncto temporis intermisso,id. N. D. 1, 20, 52; Caes. B. C. 2, 14.—In plur.: omnibus minimis temporum punctis,Cic. N. D. 1, 24, 67: animi discessus a corpore fit ad punctum temporis,id. Tusc. 1, 34, 82: temporis puncto omnes Uticam relinquunt,Caes. B. C. 2, 25 fin.; Plin. Pan. 56: horae,Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 172: diei,Lucr. 4, 201.—Rarely absol.: punctum est quod vivimus et adhuc puncto minus,Sen. Ep. 49, 14, 3: puncto brevissimo dilapsa domus,App. M. 9, p. 235, 30; cf.: quod momentum, quod immo temporis punctum, aut beneficio sterile aut vacuum laude,Plin. Pan. 56, 2; Vulg. Isa. 54, 7.
* In space, a point: ipsa terra ita mihi parva visa est, ut me imperii nostri, quo quasi punctum ejus attingimus, poeniteret,Cic. Rep. 6, 16, 16.
* In discourse, a small portion, brief clause, short section, Cic. Par. prooem. § 2; id. de Or. 2, 41, 177; Aus. Idyll. 12 prooem.

s. TLL