μέθοδος

A. following after, pursuit, νύμφης μέθοδον ποιεῖσθαι Anon. ap. Suid. s.v. ζεῦγος ἡμιονικόν (EM 409.35):—hence,

II. pursuit of knowledge, investigation, Pl. Sph. 218d, 235c, al.; μ. ποιεῖσθαι to pursue one's inquiry, ib.243d; ἐν τῇ πρώτῃ μ. Arist. Pol. 1289a26: hence, treatise, Dam. Pr. 451.

2. mode of prosecuting such inquiry, method, system, Pl. Phdr. 270c, Arist. EN 1129a6, Pol. 1252a18, etc.; ἡ διαλεκτικὴ μ. Pl. R. 533c, Arist. Rh. 1358a4; joined with τέχνη, Id. EN 1094a1, cf. Phld. Rh. 1.32 S.; μ. ἔχειν to have a plan or system, Arist. Top. 101a29; ἡ περὶ τὸν πίνακα μ. Plu. Rom. 12.

3. ἡ τοῦ πάντα κινεῖσθαι μ. the doctrine of motion, Pl. Tht. 183c.

4. 'methodic' medicine, ἰητὴρ μεθόδου . . προστάτα Epigr.Gr. 306 (Smyrna), cf. Julian. ap.Gal. 18(1).256.

5. Rhet., means, τῆς εὑρέσεως, τοῦ κατορθοῦν, τοῦ ἀνεπαχθῶς ἑαυτὸν ἐπαινεῖν, Hermog. Meth. 2,22,25.

b. means of recognizing, τῶν στάσεων Id. Stat. 1,2.

c. mode of treating the subject-matter, Id. Id. 1.1.

III. trick, ruse, Plu. 2.176a: pl., Vett. Val.242.11; μ. ἐρωτικαί Aristaenet. 1.17; stratagem, LXX 2 Ma. 13.18.