About Report a problem

Menu

χέρνιψ

χέρνιψ, water for washing the hands

χέρνιψ, ἡ, used by Hom. (only in Od., v. infr.) always in acc. χέρνιβα; later in nom., A. Eu. 656; gen. χέρνιβος S. Fr. 1127.7, Ar. Lys. 1129, Lys. 6.52, D. 20.158; dat. χέρνιβι Ar. Av. 897 (lyr.), Th. 4.97; pl., freq. in Trag. (v. infr. 2); poet. dat. χερνίβεσσιν Simon. 44: (χείρ, νίζω):—
  • water for washing the hands, before meals, Od. 1.136, 3.440, 4.52, etc.: esp. of holy water used before sacrifices, 3.445, Ar. Av. 850, Lys. 1129; ὕδωρ, ὃ ἦν ἄψαυστον σφίσι, πλὴν πρὸς τὰ ἱερὰ χέρνιβι χρῆσθαι Th. l.c., εἴργεσθαι χέρνιβος D. l.c.
      • 2 freq. in pl. χέρνιβες, purifications with holy water, Simon. 45, E. Or. 1602 Ph. 662 (lyr.), etc.; χέρνιβας νέμειν allow the use of holy water, S. OT 240; κοινωνὸς χερνίβων a partaker therein, i.e. an inmate of the same house or companion at table, A. Ag. 1037; εἰς ἱέρʼ εἰσιόντα καὶ χερνίβων καὶ κανῶν ἁψόμενον D. 22.78, cf. E. IA 675, 1479 (lyr.), IT 58, 244, 335; προχύτας χέρνιβάς τʼ ἐνάρξεται Id. IA 955; used before entering the house after a funeral, Id. Alc. 100 (lyr., sg.).
      • 3 rarely of libations to the dead, A. Ch. 129. (On the accent v. Hdn.Gr. 1.246.)

Saved

Recent