στροφή
εἰς πέλαγος σπέρµα βαλεῖν καὶ γράµµατα γράψαι ἀµφότερος µόχθος τε κενὸς καὶ πρᾶξις ἄκαρπος → throwing seeds and writing letters at sea are both a vain and fruitless endeavor
English (LSJ)
ἡ,
A turning, e.g. of a horse, X.Eq.7.15,17, 10.15; revolving, circling, ἄρκτου στροφαί S.Fr.432.11; τοῦ σώματος (sc. τῆς σελήνης) Epicur.Ep.2p.41U.; ὡρῶν Pl.Lg.782a; of a snake, Arist.PA692a6; ἐν στροφαῖσιν ὀμμάτων with rolling of the eyes, E.HF932. 2 twist, such as wrestlers make to elude their adversary, πάσας στροφὰς στρέφεσθαι Pl.R.405c: metaph., slippery trick, dodge, οὐκ ἔργον ἔστ' οὐδὲν στροφῶν Ar.Pl.1154, cf. Ec.1026, Ra.775; δημηγόρους εὐπιθεῖς σ. A.Supp.623. 3 in Music, twist or turn, κατακάμπτειν τὰς σ. Ar.Th.68. 4 winding up of a winch, CPHerm.p.79 (iii A.D.). 5 turning of a road, τὸν νεκρὸν . . ἐν ταῖς σ. μὴ καττιθέντων μηδαμεῖ Schwyzer 323 C 33 (Delph., iv B.C.). 6 metaph., (στρέφω B. 111) occupation, concern, περί τι Herm.in Phdr. p.67 A. II turning of the Chorus: hence, the strain sung during this evolution, strophe (cf. ἀντίστροφος IV, ἀντιστροφή 1), Pherecr.145.9, Phld.Po.Herc.994 Fr.19, D.H.Comp.19, Ph.2.484, etc. III στροφαί· ἀστραπαί, Hsch. (v. στροπά). IV transmutation of metals, Zos.Alch.p.195 B.
