κατάρχομαι

From LSJ

μαλακίζομαι πρὸς τὸν θάνατον → meet death like a weakling

Source

English (Autenrieth)

only ipf., in ritualistic sense, χέρνιβά τ' οὐλοχύτᾶς τε, began the sacred hand-washing and sprinkling of barley meal, Od. 3.445†.