ἀφορμή

ἀφορμή, ἡ, A. starting-point, esp. in war, base of operations, ἀναχώρησίς τε καὶ ἀ. Th. 1.90, cf. Plb. 1.41.6, etc.; place of safety, E. Med. 342. 2. generally, starting-point, origin, occasion or pretext, ἀφορμαὶ λόγων Id. Hec. 1239, Ph. 199; ἀφορμὴν παρέχειν D. 18.156; δεδωκέναι Id. 21.98, cf. 2 Ep.Cor. 5.12; λαβεῖν ἀ. Isoc. 4.61, Ep.Rom. 7.8; εὑρεῖν BGU 615.6(ii A. D.), 923.22 (i/ii A. D.); ἵνα ἀ. γένοιτο τιμῆς Inscr.Prien. 105.16 (i B. C.); ἀ. καὶ πρόφασις Plb. 2.52.3; occasion, origin of an illness, Hp. Epid. 2.1.11, Sor. 1.29; εἰδέ τις οἴεται μικρὰν ἀ. εἶναι σιτηρέσιον τοῖς στρατευομένοις ὑπάρχειν a small inducement, D. 4.29; τὸ γὰρ εὖ πράττειν παρὰ τὴν ἀξίαν ἀ. τοῦ κακὼς φρονεῖν Id. 1.23; instigation, incitement, POxy. 237 vii 21 (ii A. D.). 3. means with which one begins a thing, resources, ἀ. τοῦ βίου Lys. 24.24; εἰς τὸν βίον X. Mem. 3.12.4; τίνας εἶχεν ἀφορμὰς ἡ πόλις; D. 18.233; ἀφελεῖν τὴν ἀ. διʼ ἣν ὑβρίζει Id. 21.98; πίστις ἀ. μεγίστη πρὸς χρηματισμόν good faith is the best asset for business, Id. 36.44, cf. 11.16; ἀ. ἐπί . . Id. 3.33; esp. means of war, And. 1.109; ἀ. εἰς ξένους χιλίους means for levying 1000 mercenaries, X. HG 4.8.33; ἀ. ἔργων means for undertaking . . , Id. Mem. 2.7.11, cf.3.5.11; πρὸς ἀφορμὴν ἐμπορίας ἢ γεωργίας Arist. Pol. 1320a39; πάντων ἀ. τῶν καλῶν Philem. 110. 4. capital of a banker, etc., Lys. Fr. 1.2, X. Mem. 2.7.12, Lycurg. 26,D. 14.30,36.11; ἀφορμῆς δίκη suit for restitution of capital, Arg.D. 36. 5. Rhet., food for argument, material, subject, ὑποθέσεις καὶ ἀφορμαὶ λόγων Luc. Rh.Pr. 18, cf. Men.Rh.p.334S., Aps.p.264H. 6. aptitude, inclination, εἰς φιλανθρωπίαν Phld. Ir.p.53 W. (pl.). II. Stoic term for repulsion (opp. ὁρμή), Chrysipp.Stoic. 3.42, cf. 40, Simp. in Epict.p.22D. III. release of water from sluice, PAmh. 2.143.17 (iv A. D.).