συστολή

A. drawing together, drawing up, contraction, ς. εἰς αὑτάς (of souls in pain) Plu. 2.564b; [τὴν ψυχὴν] ποτὲ μὲν εἰς ἡδονὰς καὶ διαχύσεις ἄγεσθαι, ποτὲ δὲ εἰς οἴκτους καὶ συστολάς Ptol. Harm. 3.7; λύπη ἐστὶν ἄλογος ς. Stoic. 3.95, cf. Thphr. Fr. 77, Zeno Stoic. 1.51, Epicur. Fr. 410; esp. in Medic., a contraction of the heart or lungs, opp. διαστολή, Herophil. ap. Placit. 4.22.3; σφυγμός ἐστι διαστολὴ καὶ ς. καρδίας καὶ ἀρτηριῶν Gal. 8.700; of other organs, [τῆς μήτρας] Sor. 1.70b; συστολαί τινες ἀνειδεῖς εἰς ἄρθρα Alex.Trall. Verm. p.589 P., cf. Gal. 18(2).128.

2. contraction, limitation, συστολῆς μᾶλλον ἢ προσθέσεως τὰς τιμὰς δεῖσθαι Plu. Caes. 60, cf. 2.135a.

3. abasing, taking down, ib.544e.

4. Gramm., change of a long vowel into a short, e.g. ξερόν for ξηρόν, A.D. Synt. 281.7; ς. Ἰωνικὴ ἢ ποιητική EM 735.51; also pronouncing as short a syllable that is strictly long, D.H. Comp. 25, D.T. 633.12, S.E. M. 1.108.

5. lessening of expenses, retrenchment, Plb. 27.13.4, Phld. Oec. p.71 J. (pl.).

6. spareness, tenuity, τῶν ἀγαλμάτων Demetr. Eloc. 14.

7. pusillanimity, Poll. 5.122.

8. fasting, Sor. 1.49, 2.15, al.

9. in fevers, remission, Alex.Trall. Febr. 4; but also a chill, the cold stage of ague, Gal. 7.428.