ἀπαρχή

ἀπαρχή, ἡ, mostly in pl. ἀπαρχαί (cf. ἄπαργμα): 1. beginning of a sacrifice, primal offering (of hairs cut from the forehead), ἀπαρχαὶ κόμης E. Or. 96, cf. Ph. 1525 (lyr.); later, a banquet held on this occasion, Plu. 2.40b. 2. firstlings for sacrifice or offering, first-fruits, ἁπάντων ἀπαρχαί Hdt. 4.71; ἀπαρχὰς ἄγειν θεοῖσι S. Tr. 183; ἀπαρχὰς θύειν E. Fr. 516; ἀ. σκυλευμάτων Ph. 857; ἐπιφέρειν ἀ. τῶν ὡραίων Th. 3.58; τῶν ὄντων Is. 5.42, cf. Epicur. Fr. 130, etc.:—so also in sg., λείας ἀ. S. Tr. 761; ἀ. τῶν πατρων χρημάτων Hdt. 1.92, etc.; ἀνθρώπων ἀ. εἰς Δελφοὺς ἀποστέλλειν Arist. Fr. 485; ἀ. ἀπό τινος ἀνατιθέναι Hdt. 4.88; inscribed on votive offerings, [ἀνέθηκεν] . . τόδʼ α. IG 1.382, etc.; freq. in LXX, as Ex. 25.2, al., cf. Ep.Rom. 11.16, and metaph., ἀ. τῶν κεκοιμημένων 1 Ep.Cor. 15.20; τῶν κτισμάτων Ep.Jac. 1.18. 3. metaph., ἀπαρχαὶ τῶν ἐμῶν προσφθεγμάτων E. Ion 402; ἀπαρχὴν τῆς σοφίας ἀνέθεσαν Pl. Prt. 343b, etc.; ἀ. ἀπὸ φιλοσοφίας Plu. 2.172c. 4. tax on inheritances, PTaur. 1.7.10; tax paid by Jews, Stud.Pal. 4.72 (i A. D.). 5. entrance fee, PTeb. 316.10 (i A.D.), al. 6. board of officials (cf. sq.), IG 12(8).273 (Thasos). 7. birth-certificate of a free person, PTeb. 316.10 (i A. D.), PGnom. 131 (ii A. D.): perh. metaph. in Ep.Rom. 8.23.