ἐπιτέμνω
μή, φίλα ψυχά, βίον ἀθάνατον σπεῦδε, τὰν δ' ἔμπρακτον ἄντλει μαχανάν → Oh! my soul do not aspire to eternal life, but exhaust the limits of the possible. | Do not yearn, O my soul, for immortal life! Use to the utmost the skill that is yours. | Do not, my soul, strive for the life of the immortals, but exhaust the practical means at your disposal.
English (LSJ)
Ion. ἐπιτάμνω, fut.
A -τεμῶ Antyll. (v. infr.) : aor. ἐπέτᾰμον: —cut upon the surface, make an incision into, gash, τὸ ἔσω τῶν χειρῶν Hdt.3.8, cf. 4.70 ; κατὰ μῆκος τὰς σάρκας Id.6.75 ; φλέβα Hp.Aër. 22 ; ἐ. τὴν σαυτοῦ κεφαλήν Aeschin.2.93:—Med., ἐπεὰν ἐπιτάμωνται τοὺς βραχίονας ἐς τὴν ὁμοχροίην Hdt.1.74 ; κατά τι in a place, Thphr. HP1.8.4. 2 make a further incision, opp. τέμνειν, Antyll. ap. Orib. 44.23.2. II cut short, τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν ἐπιχειρημάτων Arist.SE174b29 ; λέγοντα ἐ. τινά Plb.28.23.3 ; τὰς προφάσεις Id.35.4.6, cf. 5.58.3 ; prune, Thphr.HP6.6.6. 2 abridge, shorten, epitomize a book, Plu. Art.11:—Med., Luc.Pr.Im.16:—Pass., κεφαλαιωδέστατα -τετμημένα Epicur.Ep.1p.31U., cf. Phld.D. 3.14. 3 cut off the view, Man.2.115:—Pass., to be cut short, τὰ αὐτοσχέδια ἐ. Ph.2.582.
