I.to pluck, twitch, pinch, nip (syn. carpo).
I. 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.—
II. Trop.
A. To wake up, arouse by twitching: “excitandus e somno et vellicandus est animus admonendusque,” Sen. Ep. 20, 11; 63, 1.—
B. 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.
