χήρα

A. widow, χῆραι γυναῖκες Il. 2.289; μήτηρ χ. 22.499; μὴ παῖδ’ ὀρφανικὸν θήῃς χ. τε γυναῖκα 6.432; λείπειν τινὰ χ. ἐν μεγάροισιν 22.484, 24.725, cf. S. Aj. 653, E. Andr. 348, Tr. 380; χήρας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐποίησαν Lys. 2.71; as a name of Hera, Paus. 8.22.2 (χῆραι· αἱ μὴ ἔχουσαι ἄνδρας, Hsch.; ἡ μονωθεῖσα ἀπ’ ἀνδρὸς χ. Poll. 3.47).

2. Com., of a dish, widowed, i.e. without sauce, Sotad.Com. 1.26.

3. later masc. χῆρος, widower, Arist. HA 612b34 (of birds), Call. Epigr. 17, Gramm. post Hdn. Epim. 286.

II. χῆρος, α, ον, Adj, metaph., bereaved, χῆρα μέλαθρα E. Alc. 862 (anap.); μάνδραι Call. Cer. 106; βίος Epigr.Gr. 406.13 (Iconium); εὐνή IG 14.1389 i 12; δόμος Call. Epigr. 22; δρυμοὶ χ. bereft of men, AP 9.84 (Antiphan.): c. gen., Il. 6.408; φάρσος . . στελεοῦ χῆρον ἐλαϊνέου AP 6.297 (Phanias), cf. Vett.Val. 117.6; χήρους γυναικῶν οἰκεῖν Str. 7.3.4; τὰ χῆρα φρονήσεως Ph. 1.601; ναῦς ὕδατος χ. Ael. NA 13.28. (Cf. χωρίς, χατίζω, Skt. jáhāti 'abandon, renounce'.)