προτέλειος
κρείσσων ἐναρχόμενος βοηθῶν καρδίᾳ τοῦ ἐπαγγελλομένου καὶ εἰς ἐλπίδα ἄγοντος· δένδρον γὰρ ζωῆς ἐπιθυμία ἀγαθή (Proverbs 13.12 LXX) → One who sincerely sets about helping is better than one who makes promises leading to hope; for a kindly urge is a tree of life.
English (LSJ)
ον, (τέλος)
A before a ceremony of initiation, etc.: Subst. προτέλεια (sc. ἱερά), τά, sacrifice offered before any solemnity, θυτὴρ γενέσθαι... προτέλεια ναῶν as an offering in behalf of . ., A.Ag.227 (lyr.); π. Ἐλευσινίων restd. in IG12.5.2; before the marriage-rite, π. δ' ἤδη παιδὸς ἔσφαξας θεᾷ; E.IA718, cf. Pl.Com.174.5; π. γάμων Pl.Lg. 774e, cf. Men.1058, Ael.Dion.p.61 Schwabe: rarely in sg., Aristid. Quint.3.27. 2 generally, beginning, ἐν προτελείοις κάμακος in the preliminary conflicts, A.Ag.65 (anap.); ἐν βιότου π. ib.720 (lyr). b metaph., introduction, τὰ π. τῆς φιλοσοφίας Ph.1.294, cf. Gal.Phil. Hist.16; π. γράφων τῆς ἀκροάσεως Procl.in Prm.p.541 S.: rarely in sg., Them.Or.20.235d.
