knock down Copy link Outline I. Lit.1. dējĭcio, jēci, ctum, 3 (to dislodge forcibly from a place)2. sterno, strāvi, tum, 3 (to lay flat)3. obtrunco, 1 (with a mortal blow)II. Fig. • knock down: I. Lit.: 1. dējĭcio, jēci, ctum, 3 (to dislodge forcibly from a place): to k. down the spiders' webs from a wall, araneas de pariete d., Pl. Stich. 2, 2, 31: v. to dislodge, overthrow. 2. sterno, strāvi, tum, 3 (to lay flat): to k. down walls with a ram, muros ariete s., Liv. 1, 29, init.: to k. down with the tusks, dentibus s., Plin. 8, 9, 9. So, prosterno: cf. Ter. Ad. 3, 2, 21, ceteros ruerem, ... tunderem et prosternerem ("would tumble, belabour, and k. down"). Both the simple and comp. verb less homely than the Eng. 3. obtrunco, 1 (with a mortal blow): cf. Pl. Aul. 3, 4, 10, capio fustim, obtrunco gallum ("I knock him down dead"). II. Fig.: to k. down to any one at an auction: addīco, xi, ctum, 3: to k. down a person's goods to a person, bona alicujus alicui ad., Cic. C. Rab. 17, 45.