The Homer Reader The Iliad & Odyssey · Greek and English

αἰχμή

aichme

point of a spear

Appears 28 times across Homer's epics.

Frequency by work

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Dictionary (LSJ)

αἰχμή, ἡ, (Aeol. αἴχμα AB 1095) A. point of a spear, πάροιθε δὲ λάμπετο δουρὸς αἰ. χαλκείη Il. 6.320; αἰ. ἔγχεος 16.315. 2. generally, point, of arrows, τοξουλκὸς αἰ. A. Pers. 239; ἀγκίστρου, κεράων, Opp. H. 1.216, C. 2.451. II. spear, Il. 12.45, etc.; δαμασίμβροτος αἰ. Pi. O. 9.79; πρὸς τὴν αἰχμὴν ἐτράπετο took to his spear, Hdt. 3.78; αἰχμῇ εἷλε with the spear, i.e. in war, Id. 5.94; otherwise rare in Prose, X. Cyr. 4.6.4. b. metaph. of the trident of Poseidon, A. Pr. 925. 2. body of spear-bearers, Pi. O. 7.19, E. Heracl. 276. 3. war, battle, κακῶς ἡ αἰ. ἑστήκεε the war went ill, Hdt. 7.152; παρμένοντας αἰχμᾷ standing their ground in battle, Pi. P. 8.40; θηρῶν with wild beasts, E. HF 158. 4. metaph. of plague, sharpness, βρωτῆρας αἰ. A. Eu. 803. III. warlike spirit, αἰ. νέων θάλλει Terp. 6; θρέψε δʼ αἰχμὰν Ἀμφιτρύωνος Pi. N. 10.13; γυναικὸς αἰ. a womanʼs temper, A. Ag. 483 (lyr.), cf. Ch. 630 (lyr.; but perh. = rule, cf.Pr. 406). (Cf. Lith. jiešmas ‘spit’.)
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