μειλίχιος

μειλίχ-ιος, α, ον, also ος, ον Plu.2.370d, cf. Hsch.:—

A gentle, soothing, Hom. mostly of speech,

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι Il.12.267

, al.;

μ. μῦθος Od.6.148

, cf. B.10.90: without Subst., προσαυδᾶν μειλιχίοισι with gentle words, Il.4.256, 6.214;

οἱ δέ τ' ἐς αὐτὸν τερπόμενοι λεύσσουσιν—ὁ δ' ἀσφαλέως ἀγορεύει—αἰδοῖ μειλιχίῃ Od.8.172

;

θεὸν ὣς ἱλάσκονται αἰδοῖ μειλιχίῃ Hes.Th.92

. Adv. -ίως A.R.2.467, etc.: neut. as Adv.,

μειλίχιον μυκήσατο Mosch.2.97

.

II later of persons, mild, gracious, Ζεὺς M. the protector of those who invoked him with propitiatory offerings, at Athens, IG12.866 (written [full] Μιλίχιος), Th.1.126, X.An.7.8.4; at Orchomenus in Boeotia, IG7.3169 (written [full] Μιλίχιος BCH50.422 ([place name] Thespiae)); in Argolis, Paus.2.20.1, etc.; of other divinities, as Dionysus, Plu.2.994a, etc.;

Κύπρις AP5.225

(Paul. Sil.): Cret., Theraean [full] Μηλίχιος GDI5046 ([place name] Hierapytna), al., IG12(3).406, 1316; early [dialect] Ion. [full] Μειλίχιος written [full] Μελ- ib.12(5).727 ([place name] Andros); Arc. written [full] Μελίχιος ib.5(2).90 (Tegea, perh. iv B. C.).

III μειλίχια (sc. ἱερά) propitiatory offerings, Plu.2.417c; so perh.

μ. ποτά S.OC159

(lyr., but expld. by Sch. as referring to honey mixed in the drink-offerings).