stĭmŭlus (noun M) : for stig-mulus, from the root stig; Gr. στίζω; v. stilus.
* A goad for driving cattle, slaves, etc. (class., esp. in the trop. sense).
* Lit.: jam lora teneo, jam stimulum in manu: Agite equi, etc.,Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 112: parce, puer, stimulis, et fortius utere loris,Ov. M. 2, 127: aut stimulo tardos increpuisse boves,Tib. 1, 1, 30 (12); cf. Ov. M. 14, 647: ita te forabunt patibulatum per vias Stimulis,Plaut. Ps. 1, 1, 54: aliquem stimulo fodere,id. Curc. 1, 2, 40: dum te stimulis fodiam,Cic. Phil. 2, 34, 86: numquam stimulo lacessat juvencum,Col. 2, 2, 26.—As a term of abuse of slaves: stimulorum seges,Plaut. Aul. 1, 1, 6; cf. id. Cas. 2, 8, 11: stimulorum tritor,id. Pers. 5, 2, 17.—Prov.: si stimulos pugnis caedis, manibus plus dolet,i. e. an evil is aggravated by foolish opposition,Plaut. Truc. 4, 2, 55; cf.: advorsum stimulum calces,kick against the pricks,Ter. Phorm. 1, 2, 28.
* In milit. lang., a pointed stake concealed beneath the surface of the ground, to repel hostile troops (syn.: sudes, stipes),Caes. B. G. 7, 73 fin.: se stimulis induere,id. ib. 7, 82.
* A sting, torment, pang: mens sibi conscia factis ... adhibet stimulos torretque flagellis,Lucr. 3, 1019; cf.: subesse caecum aliquem cordi stimulum,id. 3, 874: ne illa stimulum longum habet, quae usque illinc cor pungit meum,Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 79: stimulos doloris contemnere,Cic. Tusc. 2, 27, 66; cf.: (res malae) lacerant, vexant, stimulos admovent, etc.,id. ib. 3, 16, 35: stimulos in pectore caecos Condidit,Ov. M. 1, 726.
* A spur, incentive, incitement, stimulus: animum gloriae stimulis concitare,Cic. Arch. 11, 29: quidam industriae ac laboris (with illecebrae libidinum),id. Cael. 5, 12: quot stimulos admoverit homini victoriae studioso,id. Sest. 5, 12; cf.: defendendi Vatinii,id. Fam. 1, 9, 19: omnia pro stimulis facibusque ciboque furoris Accipit,Ov. M. 6, 480: ardet, et injusti stimulis agitatur amoris,id. F. 2, 779: non hostili modo odio sed amoris etiam stimulis,Liv. 30, 14, 1: ad hanc voluntatem ipsius naturae stimulis incitamur,Cic. Rep. 1, 2, 3: ad dicendum etiam pudor stimulos habet,Quint. 10, 7, 16: agrariae legis tribuniciis stimulis plebs furebat,Liv. 2, 54; cf.: acriores quippe aeris alieni stimulos esse,id. 6, 11: subdere stimulos animo,id. 6, 34: in aliquem stimulis accendi,Tac. H. 3, 45; cf.: suis stimulis excitos Moesiae duces,id. ib. 3, 53: secundae res acrioribus stimulis animos explorant,id. ib. 1, 15: acres Subjectat lasso stimulos,Hor. S. 2, 7, 94: stimulos sub pectore vertit Apollo,Verg. A. 6, 101: movere acres stimulos irarum,Luc. 2, 324: accensae stimulis majoribus irae,Stat. Th. 11, 497: dare stimulos laudum,id. Achill. 1, 203.