ἄφεσις

ἄφεσις, εως, ἡ, ([etym.] ἀφίημι)

A letting go, release, περὶ τῆς τῶν πλοίων ἀφέσεως Philipp. ap. D.18.77, cf. Pl.Plt.273c;

καρπῶν PAmh.2.43.9

(ii B. C.); γῆ ἐν ἀφέσει land in private hands, opp. βασιλική, PTeb. 5.37 (ii B. C.), etc.

b of persons, dismissal: in ritual,

λαοῖς ἄ. Apul.Met.11.17

; release, Plb.1.79.12, IG2.314.21, Ev.Luc.4.18.

2 c. gen., ἀ. φόνου quittance from murder, Pl.Lg.869d: so abs., Hermog.Stat.8; discharge from a bond, D.33.3;

ἄ. ἐναντίον μαρτύρων ποιήσασθαι Id.45.41

; opp. ἀπόδοσις χρημάτων, Isoc.17.29; exemption from attendance, leave of absence, Arist.Ath.30.6; ἀ. τῆς στρατείας exemption from service, Plu.Ages.24; remission of a debt,

ταλάντου Michel1340

B7 (Cnidus, ii B. C.);

χρημάτων IPE12.32B70

(Olbia, iii B. C.); sc. καταδίκης, Inscr.Magn.93c16.

b forgiveness, Ev. Marc.3.29;

ἁμαρτιῶν Ev.Matt.26.28

.

3 relaxation, exhaustion, Hp.Epid.3.6.

4 divorce,

τινὶ πέμπειν Plu.Pomp.42

.

5 starting of horses in a race,

ἵππων ἄ. ποιεῖν D.S.4.73

: hence, starting-post itself, ἰσώσας τἀφέσει (Musgr. for τῇ φύσει) τὰ τέρματα having made the winning-post one with the starting-post, i.e. having completed the δίαυλος and come back to the starting-post, dub. cj. in S.El.686, cf. Paus.5.15.5, 6.20.9: metaph., the first start, beginning of anything, Man.3.405, etc.

6 discharge, emission,

ὕδατος Arist.PA 697a24

;

βέλους D.S.17.41

;

τοῦ θοροῦ, τοῦ ᾠοῦ Arist.GA756a12

;

τοῦ κυήματος Id.HA608a1

; the dropping of a foal, ib.576a25.

b discharge, release of an engine, Ph.Bel.58.24.

7 = ἀφεσμός, Arist.HA 625a20 (pl.).

8 release,

ὕδατος PPetr.2p.34

(iii B. C.): hence, in concrete sense, conduit, sluice, ib.3p.88, PFlor.388.44 (iii A. D.): pl.,

ἀφέσεις θαλάσσης

channels,

LXX 2 Ki.22.16

.

9 Astrol., reckoning of the vital quadrant, Ptol.Tetr.127, cf. Vett.Val.136.2 (but ἀπὸ Λέοντος τὴν ἄφεσιν ποιούμενοι, simply, starting from . . , Id.31.8).