σφάζω

A. σφάξω E. Heracl. 493: aor. ἔσφαξα Il. 2.422: pf. ἔσφακα, known from plpf. ἐσφάκειν D.C. 73.6, (ἀπο‐) 78.7:—Pass., fut. σφαγήσομαι E. Andr. 315, Heracl. 583, (ἀπο‐) X. HG 3.1.27: aor. ἐσφάγην [α] Trag. (A. Eu. 305, etc.) and late Prose, Plu. Publ. 4, etc.; less freq. ἐσφάχθην, Pi. P. 11.23, Hdt. 5.5, E. IT 177 (lyr., nowhere else in Trag.): pf. ἔσφαγμαι Od. 10.532, D. 23.68:—slay, slaughter, properly by cutting the throat (v. σφαγή 11), in Hom. always of cattle, μῆλ’ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς Od. 1.92, cf. 9.46, 23.305, Il. 9.467.

II. esp. slaughter victims for sacrifice, 1.459, etc.; ἔσφαζ’ ἐπ’ ὤμων μόσχον cut its throat, as it hung from the servant's shoulders, E. El. 813; ς. παρθένου δέρην Id. Or. 1199:—Pass., Od. 10.532; ἀρνίον ἐσφαγμένον Apoc. 5.6.

2. generally, slay, kill, of human victims, as Iphigeneia, Menoeceus, Pi. P. 11.23, E. Ph. 913, cf. A. Ag. 1433, Ch. 904; ς. τινὰ ἐς τὸν κρητῆρα so that the blood ran into the bowl, Hdt. 3.11:— Pass., σφάζεται ἐς τὸν τάφον Id. 5.5; πρὸς βωμῷ σφαγείς A. Eu. 305.

3. of any slaughter by knife or sword, Hdt. 5.25, 7.107; ς. ἑαυτόν Th. 2.92; ς. καὶ ἐκδέρειν Pl. Euthd. 301c; τὸν ἴδιον ἀδελφόν PMag.Osl. 1.5, cf. 1 Ep.Jo. 3.12.

4. of animals, tear by the throat, ς. ὥσπερ οἱ λύκοι τὰ πρόβατα Arist. HA 612b2.

5. of any killing, BGU 388 ii 21 (ii A.D.), OGI 697 (Egypt), Sammelb. 7436.7 (vi A.D.), Gloss.

6. metaph., torment, τινα POxy. 259.33 (i A.D.).