(verb) : vellĭco, āvi, ātum, 1, vello
* To pluck, twitch, pinch, nip (syn. carpo).
* Lit.: cornix vulturios vellicat,Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 148: puer, quid fieret, interrogatus, a paedagogo se vellicari respondit,Quint. 6, 1, 41: saetas,Nemes. Ecl. 3, 32: vellicata blande auricula suscitavit,Paul. Nol. Ep. 36, 3.
* Transf., of bees: nullius opus,to suck,Varr. R. R. 3, 16, 7.
* Trop.
* To wake up, arouse by twitching: excitandus e somno et vellicandus est animus admonendusque,Sen. Ep. 20, 11; 63, 1.
* To pluck or twitch in speaking, i. e. to twit, taunt, carp, rail at (cf. rodo): contemplent, conspiciant omnes, nutent, nectent, sibilent, vellicent, vocent, etc.,Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 73: more hominum invident, in conviviis rodunt, in circulis vellicant, maledico dente carpunt,Cic. Balb. 26, 57: quod vellicet absentem Demetrius,Hor. S. 1, 10, 79; cf.: nullum est tam plenum beneficium, quod non vellicare malignitas possit,belittle,Sen. Ben. 2, 28, 2: (puella) te vellicet,Prop. 2, 5, 8; Gell. 4, 15, 1.