ἀπότομος

A. cut off, στροφέων ἀ. μῆκος πήχεων πέντε IG 11(2).287 A 49 (Delos, iii B.C.); esp. sheer, precipitous, ἀ.ἐστι ταύτῃ ἡ ἀκρόπολις Hdt. 1.84, cf. 4.62; ἀ. ἐκ θαλάττης Pl. Criti. 118a; τὰ ἀ. precipices, Philostr. VA 3.4; ἀπότομον ὤρουσεν εἰς ἀνάγκαν, metaph. from one who comes suddenly to the edge of a cliff, S. OT 877 (lyr.). Adv. ‐μως, ἔχειν Philostr. VA 2.5.

2. metaph., severe, relentless, λῆμα E. Alc. 981 (lyr.); κρίσις LXX Wi. 6.6. Adv. ‐ως ib.5.22, Plb. 18.11.2, Plu. Crass. 3, etc.; brusquely, prob. l. in Cic. Att. 10.11.5.

b. of persons, severe, Ph. 2.268.

c. of gladiatorial combats, a fight to a finish, ἑνόζυγον ἀπότομον IGRom. 4.1632; ἀπότομα alone, μουσεῖον καὶ Βιβλ. 1876/8 No.153; μονομαχιῶν τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀποτόμονς Inscr.Magn. 163.10, cf. IGRom. 3.360.9 (Sagalassus), CIG 2880 (Branchidae).

3. concise, συγκεφαλαίωσις Plb. 9.32.6.

4. c. gen., οἱ καθηγητῶν οὕτως ἀπότομοι γενηθέντες offshoots of our founders, Phld. Lib. p.22 O.

5. ἀπότομοι· οὐκ ἐνεργοί, Hsch.: ἀπότομον· τὸν μὴ ἄξιον προσίψεως, Id.

II. absolute: Adv. ‐μως absolutely, οὐδὲν τῶν τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἀ. οὔτε κακὸν οὔτ’ ἀγαθόν Isoc. 6.50, cf. D. 61.4; ἀ. ἀληθής Phld. Mus. p.98 K.; precisely, in the strictest sense, τοῖς ὀνόμασι χρῆσθαι Isoc. 9.10.