ἐπαμφοτερίζω

ἐπαμφοτερ-ίζω,

• to be double: hence, play a double game, ‘run with the hare and hunt with the hounds’, Pherecr. 19, Th. 8.85; halt between two opinions, Pl. Phdr. 257b, Arr. Epict. 4.2.4; ἐ. τὴν γνώμην Ph. 2.170; τοῖς λογισμοῖς Plu. Mar. 40; τὸ -ίζον τῆς διανοίας Ph. 1.346.
• • • 2 of statements or arguments, to be ambiguous, susceptible of two interpretations, λόγους ἀμφιβόλους καὶ -ίζειν δυναμένους Isoc. 12.240, cf. Pl. R. 479b; λοξὰ καὶ -ίζοντα . . ἀποκρινόμενος Luc. DDeor. 18[16].1.
    • • b of fevers, partake of both kinds, Gal. 10.749.
    • 3 of vowels, to be doubtful in quantity, Aristid.Quint. 1.20.
  • II lie half-way between, of intermediate species, e.g. seals and bats, Arist. PA 697b1, HA 589a21; of apes, ἐ. ἀνθρώπῳ καὶ τετράποσι share the properties of . ., ib. 502a16; ἐ. τὴν μορφήν to be intermediate in shape, Id. PA 689b32; ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐ. πᾶσι τοῖς γένεσι Id. GA 772b1; of amphibious animals, Thphr. Fr. 171.1.
  • III abs., suffice for both, Arist. GA 777a16.

ἐπαμφοτερίζω, sich auf beide Seiten hinneigen,
   a) in der Mitte stehen zwischen zwei Dingen, Arist. öfter, auch zwischen mehreren, ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐπαμφοτερίζει πᾶσι τοῖς γένεσι gen.an. 4.4.
   b) schwanken, zweifelhaft sein, Plat. Phaedr. 257b, Rep. V.479c ; τοῖς λογισμοῖς Plut. Mar. 40 ; es bald mit der einen, bald mit der andern Partei halten, Thuc. 8.85 ; neutral sein, Plut. Lys. 22 ; μηδὲν μᾶλλον μετὰ τῶν ἐπαινούντων ἢ τῶν ψεγόντων ὄντας ἀλλʼ ἐπαμφοτερίζειν δυναμένους Isocr. 12.240 ; – zweideutig sein, καὶ λοξά Luc. D.D. 16.1.

ἐπαμφοτερίζω fut. Attic ιῶ ἀμφότερος

• of words, to admit a double sense, Plat.; of persons, to play a double game, Thuc.