νεφέλη

νεφέλη, ἡ, ([etym.] νέφος)

A cloud, mass of clouds (distd. from ὁμίχλη, mist or fog, Arist.Mete.346b33), Il.15.20, Hes.Th.745, etc.; ν. κυανέη, πορφυρέη, Od.12.75, Il.17.551;

ἐριβρόμου νεφέλας στρατός Pi.P.6.11

;

νεφέλαι πόκοις ἐρίων ὁμοῖαι Thphr.Sign.13

.—Mostly poet., but found in X.An.1.8.8, Arist., Thphr. ll. cc., and in late Prose, Plu.2.777e, Philostr.Ep.24.

2 metaph., νεφέλη δέ μιν ἀμφεκάλυψε κυανέη, of death, Il.20.417; τὸν δ' ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα a cloud of sorrow, 17.591, cf. S.Ant.528 (anap.);

πολέμου ν. Simon.89

;

φόνου ν. Pi.N. 9.38

, cf. I.7(6).27; Κενταύρου φονίᾳ νεφέλᾳ, i.e. with his blood, S. Tr.831 (lyr.); κελαινῶπις ν., of sleep, Pi.P.1.7.

II of clouds in urine, Hp.Prog.12, Gal.6.252.

2 = νεφέλιον 11.2, Hp.Prorrh.2.20.

3 cloud on a mirror, Arist.Insomn.459b30.

III fine bird-net, in pl., Ar.Av.194,528 (anap.), Call.Aet.3.1.37, Gal.UP1.2, Ath.1.25d: in sg., AP6.11 (Satyr.), 109 (Antip.), 185 (Zos.).

IV Alchem., sublimate, Ps.-Democr.Alch.p.50 B.