κατάρχω

English (LSJ)

   A make beginning of a thing, c.gen., τίνες κατῆρξαν . . μάχης; A.Pers.351; ὁδοῦ κατάρχειν lead the way, S.OC1019; δεινοῦ λόγου Id.Tr.1135; λόγων Χρησίμων Ar.Lys.638, cf. Pl.Prt.351e, etc.; τραυμάτων Ascl.Tact.7.1; τὸ κατάρχον αἰσθήσεως, τῆς κινήσεως, the source of perception, of motion, Gal. 5.588: rarely c. acc., begin a thing, θαυμαστόν τινα λόγον Pl.Euthd. 283b: c. part., begin doing, X.Cyr.1.4.4, 4.5.58: abs., Pl.Smp.177e, Arist.Mu.399a15.    2 θανόντα δεσπόταν γόοις κατάρξω I will lead the dirge over... E.Andr.1199 (lyr., with reference to the religious sense, infr. 11.2).    II Med., begin, like Act., c. gen., ἐχθρᾶς ἡμέρας κατάρχεται Id.Ph.540; τοῖς κατηργμένοις τῆς πορείας Pl.Phdr.256d; κ. τῆς προσβολῆς Plb.2.67.1; τοῦ λόγου Plu.2.151e: c. acc., κ. νόμον, στεναγμόν, E.Hec.685 (s. v. l.), Or.960 (both lyr.): abs., κατάρχεται μέλος is beginning, Id.HF750 (lyr.), cf. 891 (lyr.); τὸ -άρξασθαι Ael. Tact.17.    2 in religious sense, begin the sacrificial ceremonies, once in Hom., Νέστωρ Χέρνιβά τ' οὐλοχύτας τε κατήρχετο Nestor began [the sacrifice] with the washing of hands and sprinkling the barley on the victim's head, Od.3.445: abs., Hdt.4.60, 103, And.1.126; κατάρχομαι μέν, σφάγια δ' ἄλλοισιν μέλει I begin the rite, but leave the slaughter of the victim to others, E.IT40; ἐπὶ τῶν θυσιῶν κριθαῖς κ. D.H.2.25: c. gen., κατάρχεσθαι τοῦ τράγου make a beginning of the victim, i. e. consecrate him for sacrifice by cutting off the hair of his forehead, Ar.Av.959; ἐπεὶ δὲ αὐτοῦ (sc. Ἡρακλέος) πρὸς τῷ βωμῷ κατάρχοντο Hdt.2.45; πῶς δ' αὖ κατάρξῃ θυμάτων; E.Ph.573, cf.IT56, 1154; κατάρξασθαι τῶν ἱερῶν D.21.114: metaph., σκυτάλην λαβών μου κατήρξατο Luc.Somn.3, cf. Plu.Caes.66:—so later in Act., Hld.2.34, al.    b sacrifice, slay, ξίφει, φασγάνῳ κ., E.Alc.74, El.1222 (lyr.):— Pass., ᾗ (sc. τῇ θεᾷ) σὸν κατῆρκται σῶμα hath been devoted, Id.Heracl. 601.    III Act., rule, govern, c. gen., Alciphr.3.44 (s.v.l.).    IV κατάρξω ὑμᾶς ἐν σκορπίοις will chastise you... LXX 3 Ki.12.24r.