ψηλαφάω

ψηλᾰφ-άω, mostly used in [tense] pres.: [tense] fut.

A

-ήσω LXXZa.9.13

: [tense] aor. ἐψηλάφησα ib.Ge.27.22:—[voice] Pass., [tense] fut. ψηλαφηθήσομαι ib. Na.3.1: [tense] aor.

ἐψηλαφήθην S.E.M.8.108

, Plu.2.599c:—feel or grope about to find a thing, like a blind man or hoodman-blind, χερσὶ ψηλαφόων ([dialect] Ep.for -άων), of the Cyclops when blinded, Od.9.416; ψηλαφῶν οὐκ ἐδυνάμην εὑρεῖν [τὸ ἱμάτιον] Ar.Ec.315;

ψηλαφῶντες . . ὥσπερ ἐν σκότει Pl.Phd.99b

: metaph.,

ψ. περί τινων Phld.D.1.14

.

2 c. acc. rei, feel about for, grope or search after,

ἐψηλαφῶμεν ἐν σκότῳ τὰ πράγματα Ar.Pax691

; εἰ . . ψηλαφήσειαν αὐτὸν (sc. τὸν θεὸν)

καὶ εὕροιεν Act.Ap.17.27

.

II feel, touch, handle, stroke, Poll.1.183; μή ποτε ψηλαφήσῃ με ὁ πατήρ, of Isaac and Jacob, LXXGe.27.12, cf. Ev.Luc. 24.39;

ψ. καὶ τρίβειν τοῖς δακτύλοις Arist.HA571a33

; esp. in Medic., of uterine examination, Hp.Mul.1.40, al.:—[voice] Pass.,

ὧν ψηλαφωμένων ὁ ἵππος . . ἥδεται X.Eq.2.4

; [

ὄρνιθες] τῇ χειρὶ ψηλαφώμεναι Arist. HA560a9

.

III metaph., test, examine,

τὸν ν Plb.8.29.8

;

τὸν οἶνον Gp.7.5.1

;

πᾶσαν ἐπίνοιαν Plb.8.16.4

;

τὰς ἀλλήλων νοήσεις οἷον ὑπὸ σκότῳ διὰ φωνῆς ψ. Plu.2.589b

; εἴδωλον [τοῦ καλοῦ] διώκοντες καὶ ψ. ib.766a:—[voice] Pass., S.E.l.c., τὰ ψηλαφηθέντα ὑπ' Ἀντιόχου the attempts made by . . , J.AJ13.9.2.