altercor, ātus, 1, v. dep. alter, to have a discussion or difference with another, to dispute; to wrangle, quarrel, etc. (constr. cum aliquo, inter se, and alicui with acc. and absol.). In gen.: cur illa hic mecum altercata est? Pac. ap. Non. 470, 7: Labienus altercari cum Vatinio incipit, Caes. B. C. 3, 19: mulierum ritu inter nos altercantes, Liv. 3, 68.

—Once with acc.: dum hunc et hujusmodi sermonem altercamur, App. M. 2, p. 115, 40: nimium altercando veritas amittitur, P. Syr. ap. Gell. 17, 14.

— Esp., in rhet. lang., to strive to gain the victory over an opponent in a court of justice by putting questions for him to answer (cf. altercatio, II.): Crassus in altercando invenit parem neminem, in crossexamining, Cic. Brut. 43.

—Hence poet., in gen, to contend, struggle with: altercante libidinibus pavore, * Hor. S. 2, 7, 57.