ἐπικουφίζω

A. lighten a ship by throwing out part of its cargo, Hdt. 8.118 (Pass.): metaph., ἐ. ἡ τιμὴ τοὺς πόνους τῷ ἄρχοντι lightens his labours, X. Cyr. 1.6.25; τὰς συμφοράς D. 23.70; λειτουργίας IG 14.1078a; τὴν ταλαιπωρίαν Jul. adThem. 253b: c.gen. rei, relieve of a burden, μόχθου E. El. 72; τοῦ δέους D.C. 43.18:—Med., ταῖς διὰ τὴν ἀρετὴν ἡδοναῖς τὸν πόνον ‐ίζομαι LXX 4 Ma. 9.31.

II. . lift up, support, πατρὸς πλευρὰς σὺν ἐμοὶ τάσδ’ ἐπικούφιζ’ S. Aj. 1411 (anap.); ἐ. τὴν γῆν lift up the soil,X. Oec. 17.13.

2. . metaph., lift up, encourage, ἐλπίσι Id. Cyr. 7.1.18.

b. . ἐ. νόον ἀνδρός puff up, in bad sense, Thgn. 629.