inflecto

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

in-flecto: exi, exum, 3, v. a.,
I to bend, bow, curve.
I Lit.: cum ferrum se inflexisset, Caes. B. G. 1, 25: bacillum, Cic. Div. 1, 17: capillum leniter, Suet. Aug. 79. —Mid.: sinus ad urbem inflectitur, bends itself, curves round, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 12, § 30: montes inflexi theatrali modo, Plin. 4, 8, 15, § 30: nullum cursus sui vestigium, to turn aside, Cic. N. D. 2, 19, 49.—
   B In partic.
   1    To change, alter, modulate, mitigate a tone: voces cantu, Tib. 1, 8, 37: vox inflexa, a plaintive tone, Cic. Or. 17 fin.; Mart. Cap. 3, § 268 sqq.—
   2    In gram., to mark or pronounce with a circumflex accent, Arn. 1, p. 44; cf.: agite, equi, facitote sonitus ungularum appareat: Cursu celeri facite inflexa sit pedum pernicitas, i.e. beat quick time with your feet, Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 113.—
II Trop., to change, affect, aller, pervert: solus hic inflexit sensus, Verg. A. 4, 22: jus civile gratiā, Cic. Caecin. 26, 73: orationem, manner or style of speaking, id. Brut. 9, 38: magnitudinem animi, to lessen, id. Fam. 1, 7.