μάχαιρα: Difference between revisions

|Definition=[<b class="b3">μᾰ], ας</b> (later -ης, dat. -ῃ, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">PTeb.</span>16.14</span> (ii B. C.), <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ev.Luc.</span>21.24</span>, etc.), ἡ, <span class="sense"><span class="bld">A</span> [[large knife]] or [[dirk]], <span class="bibl">Il.11.844</span>, <span class="bibl">18.597</span>, <span class="bibl">19.252</span>; μ. ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεὸν αἰὲν ἄωρτο <span class="bibl">3.271</span>; [[carving-knife]], <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">O.</span> 1.49</span>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.2.61</span>, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Eq.</span>489</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">R.</span>353a</span>, etc.; κοπίδες μ. <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Cyc.</span>242</span>; [[sacrificial knife]], <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Pax</span> 948</span>, <span class="bibl">Pl.Com.91</span>, <span class="title">Michel</span>832.52 (Samos, iv B. C.):—<b class="b3">ἡ Δελφικὴ μ</b>. a knife adapted to various purposes, <span class="bibl">Arist. <span class="title">Pol.</span>1252b2</span>, cf. Hsch. s.v. [[Δελφικὴ μ]].; prov., of greedy persons, because Delphian sacrificers claimed a share for the knife, <span class="title">App.Prov.</span> 1.94. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">2</span> as a weapon, [[short sword]], [[dagger]], <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">N.</span>4.59</span>, <span class="bibl">Hdt.6.75</span>, <span class="bibl">7.225</span>, <span class="bibl">Lys.13.87</span>, etc.; an assassin's weapon, <span class="bibl">Antipho 5.69</span>; used by jugglers, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Euthd.</span>294e</span> (pl.), etc.; later, [[sabre]], opp. the straight sword (ξίφος), <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Eq.</span>12.11</span>, cf. <span class="bibl"><span class="title">HG</span>3.3.7</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Cyr.</span>1.2.13</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ev.Matt.</span>26.52</span>, etc.; <b class="b3">οἱ ἐπὶ τῆς μ</b>., of a bodyguard, <span class="bibl">Arr.<span class="title">Epict.</span>1.30.7</span>; but, <b class="b3">ἐπὶ μ. τασσόμενοι</b> possessing power of life and death (<b class="b2">jus gladii), Cat.Cod. Astr</b>.<span class="bibl">8(4).173</span>; <b class="b3">μ. ἱππική</b> cavalry [[sabre]], IG11(2).161 <span class="title">B</span>99 (Delos, iii B. C.). </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">3</span> <b class="b3">μ. κουρίδες</b>, [[shears]] or [[scissors]], <span class="bibl">Cratin.37</span>; <b class="b3">κεκαρμένος μοιχὸν μιᾶ μ</b>., i.e. with one [[blade]], <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ach.</span>849</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Poll.2.32</span> (where [[διπλῇ]] is f.l.), Hsch. s.v. [[μιᾷ μαχαίρᾳ; μ. κουρικαί]] <span class="bibl">Plu.<span class="title">Dio</span>9</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">4</span> metaph., διὰ μαχαιρῶν καὶ πυρός <span class="bibl">Zen.3.19</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Posidipp.1.10</span>; μ. τοῦ πνεύματος <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Ep.Eph.</span>6.17</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">LXX <span class="title">Is.</span>49.2</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">II</span> name of a precious stone, <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Mir.</span>847a5</span>, Ps.-Plu.<span class="title">Fluv.</span>10.5. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">III</span> part of the liver, <span class="bibl">Ruf.<span class="title">Onom.</span>180</span>.</span>