caput parieti impingere

Etymology:

• caput has several metaphorical meanings, e.g. capita coniurationis (Liv. 9. 26), the leaders of the conspiracy; caput Graeciae, the capital of Greece; caput cenae, the chief dish; capita legis, the headings, clauses of a law; id quod caput est, the main point; de capite deducere (Liv. 6. 15), to subtract from the capital; capitis periculum, mortal peril; capitis deminutio (maxima, media, minima) (Liv. 22. 60), deprivation of civil rights. caput is often combined with fons = source, origin, e.g. ille fons et caput Socrates (Cic. De. Or. 1. 42); in aegritudine est fons miseriarum et caput (Cic.) By metonymy caput is used with liberum (and noxium) (Verr. 2. 32. 79) with the meaning of a free (guilty) person, individual.