ῥήτρα

English (LSJ)

ἡ, Ion. ῥήτρη, Elean ϝράτρα, v. infr.: (ἐρῶ):—

   A verbal agreement, bargain, covenant, ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ῥήτρην ποιησόμεθ' Od.14.393; παρὰ τὴν ῥ. X.An.6.6.28; ῥ. πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ὁμολογία γίνεται Ael.VH2.7, cf. 10.18; ποιοῦνται ῥήτρας ἐπὶ χρυσίῳ παμπόλλῳ they lay wagers, Id.NA15.24.    II in the Doric and Elean dialects, compact, treaty, ἁ ϝράτρα τοῖρ ϝαλείοις καὶ τοῖς Ἑρϝαοίοις (i.e. ἡ ῥήτρα τοῖς Ἠλείοις καὶ τοῖς Ἡραιεῦσι) SIG9 (Elis, vi B.C.).    2 of the laws of Lycurgus, which assumed the character of a compact between the Law-giver and the People, Plu.Lyc.6, cf. 13; later, decree, ordinance, of the Spartan kings, as of Agis, Id.Agis 8; εὐθείαις ῥ. ἀνταπαμειβομένους (perh. in reference to the σκολιά (sc. ῥήτρα) mentioned in the addition made to the original ῥήτρα, Plu.Lyc.6), Tyrt.2.8.    3 at Byzantium,= προβούλευμα, ἐκ τᾶς βωλᾶς λαβὼν ῥήτραν Decr.Byz. ap.D.18.90 (unless, leave to speak, cf. infr. 111).    4 generally, law, X.Cyr.1.6.33; ordinance of a festival, IG5(1).1498.12 (Messenia).    III speech, ῥ. παραλαβεῖν take up the word, Luc.Pro Merc. Cond.2; παραδιδόναι Id.Tox.35: pl., speeches, Lyc.470,1037, Nic. Al.132.