ἱκέτης

English (LSJ)

ου, ὁ, (ἱκνέομαι)

   A one who comes to seek aid or protection, suppliant; freq. in Hom. of one who comes to seek for purification after homicide, ἀνὴρ ἱ. Il. 24.158, cf. Od.9.270,al.: later generally, ἱκέται ἱζόμενοι τοῦ θεοῦ Hdt.2.113, cf. 5.71; ἱ. σέθεν ἔρχομαι Pi.O.5.19, cf. S.OC634, Th.1.136; ἱ. πατρῴων τάφων Id.3.59; δέξασθαι ἱκέτην A.Supp.27 (anap.); of pilgrims to a healing shrine, ἐγκεκοιμις μένων τῶν ἱκετᾶν IG4.951.90 (Epid.); ὑβρίζειν . . εἰς ἱκέτας Phld.Ir.p.35 W.:—wrongly expld.as protector of suppliants by some Gramm. in Od.16.422.