ἐπαφή

English (LSJ)

ἡ, (ἐπαφάω)

   A touch, touching, handling, A.Supp.17, Pl. Ti. 46b, al.; σφυγμοῦ Marcellin.Puls.114, al.; ἐ. μωσικὰ [τῆς λύρας] Euryph. ap. Stob.4.39.27: pl., ἐπαφαὶ χειρῶν Plu.2.2d.    2 severe handling, punishment, ἐ. καὶ νουθεσία ib.46d; esp. of Pythagorean treatment, Iamb.VP15.64 (pl.), 25.114.    3 touch, contact, ἡδεῖα ἐ. IGRom.4.503.11 (Pergam.).    b metaph., of apprehension, Epicur.Fr.250; ἡ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ εῐτε γνῶσις εἴτε ἐ. Plot.6.7.36, cf. Iamb. Comm.Math.8; τοῦ μέλλοντος Id.Myst.3.26.    4 Geom., point of contact, Euc. Phaen. p.68 M., Procl. Hyp.2.7; περὶ ἐπαφῶν, on the theory of tangents, title of work by Apollonius of Perga, Papp.636.21, al.    II the sense of touch, Pl.Tht.186b.    III in phrases such as ἐκτὸς ἱερᾶς νόσου καὶ ἐ. PLips.4.20 (iii A.D.), πλὴν ἐ. καὶ ἱ. ν. POxy.94.11 (i A.D.), etc., prob. external claim, cf. PStrassb.79.7 (i B.C.).