ἐπιμαίομαι

ἐπιμαίομαι, [dialect] Ep.[tense] fut.-μάσσομαι (also perh. in S.Fr.55): [tense] aor.-εμασσάμην: —

A strive after, seek to obtain, aim at, mostly c. gen., σκοπέλου ἐπιμαίεο make for (i.e.steer for) the rock, Od.12.220:metaph., ἐπιμαίεο νόστου strive after a return, 5.344; δώρων ἐπεμαίετο θυμός his mind was set upon presents, Il.10.401;

λουτρῶν Theoc.23.57

; φυγῆς Timo 5.7: c. dat., to be set upon, Orph.A.932.—[dialect] Ep. word, dub. in S. l.c.

II. c. acc., lay hold of, grasp, ξίφεος δ' ἐπεμαίετο κώπην he clutched his sword-hilt, Od.11.531; τῶν ὁπότ' ἰθύσειε . . ἐπὶ χερσὶ μάσασθαι ib.591; χείρ' (i.e. χειρἴ ἐπιμασσάμενος having clutched [the sword] with my hand, 9.302, cf. 19.480; τὴν ἐπεμάσσατο χειρός took her by the hand, A.R.3.106.

2. touch, handle, feel, ὀΐων ἐπεμαίετο

νῶτα Od.9.441

; τὸν δ' ἐπιμασσάμενος προσέφη . . Πολύφημος ib. 446; τὴν (sc.

οὐλὴν γνῶ ῥ' ἐπιμασσαμένη 19.468

;

ἐπὶ νῶτ' ἐπεμαίετο Hes.Fr.166

;

ἕλκος δ' ἰητὴρ ἐπιμάσσεται ἠδ' ἐπιθήσει φάρμαχ' Il.4.190

;

ὣς ἄρα μιν . . ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατ' Ἀθήνη Od.13.429

, cf. 16.172; μάστιγι θοῶς ἐπεμαίετ' ἄρ' ἵππους she touched the horses sharply with the whip, Il.5.748, etc.;

κεφαλὰν ἐπεμάσσατο

stroked,

AP7.730

(Pers.): metaph., πυρὸς δ' ἐπεμαίετο τέχνην, Lat. artem tractavit, h.Merc.108;

νόῳ ἐ. ἕκαστα A.R.3.816

.

III. later abs., of night, come slowly on, Orph.A.121.