φθορά

A. destruction, ruin, Hdt. 2.161, 7.18, Hp. Vict. 1.5, A. Ag. 406 (lyr.), etc.; of persons, death, esp. by some general visitation, as pestilence, Th. 2.47, Pl. Lg. 677a (pl.), GDI 5104c11 (Crete, pl.); ἀνδροθνῆτας Ἰλίου φθοράς A. Ag. 814.

b. of animals, loss by death, PStrassb. 24.26,31 (ii A. D.).

2. Philos., passing out of existence, ceasing to be, γενομένῳ παντὶ φ. ἐστι Pl. R. 546a; περὶ γενέσεως καὶ φθορᾶς Id. Phd. 95e, title of work by Arist., cf. Pl. Phlb. 55a, Arist. Ph. 229b13, Gal. 6.6; ἡ φ. μεταβολή τίς ἐστι τῶν φθειρομένων εἰς τοὐναντίον ἑκάστῳ Plu. 2.948f: pl., Pl. Phd. 96b, R. 490e, al.: with dat. (instrumental), ἡ μεγίστηφθορὰ ὕδασιν Id. Ti. 23c, cf. 22d.

3. deterioration, εἰς καρπογονίαν in respect of . . Thphr. CP 5.8.2.

b. loss by deterioration, ἐκφορίου . . ἀνυπολόγου πάο ης φθορᾶς PTeb. 105.3,18 (ii B. C.); damage, ἐκτεῖσαι τὴν γεγονυῖαν ὑπ’ αὐτῶν τοῦ χόρτου . . φ. BGU 1824.29 (i B. C.); misspelt φθαρά ib.1866.3 (i B. C.).

4. seduction, ἐλευθέρων Lexap. Aeschin. 1.12; παρθένων, γυναικῶν, Plu. 2.712c (pl.), Vett.Val. 2.37 (pl.), cf. Parth. 35.3, D.H. 2.25; rape, Str. 6.1.6.

5. abortion or miscarriage, IG 22.1365.22, 1366.7, Sor. 1.56, Gal. 17(1).800; τοῦ ἐμβρύου Sor. 1.59.

6. gradation of colours in painting, Plu. 2.346a; τὰς μίξεις τῶν χρωμάτων οἱ ζωγράφοι φθορὰς ὀνομάζουσι ib.725c, cf. 393c.

7. = φθόη, Hp. Aph. 7.80.

8. storm-tossings or shipwrecks, τί τοι λέγοιμ’ ἂν τὰς ἐν Αἰγαίῳ φθοράς; E. Hel. 766; cf. φθείρω 11.4.