ποτιπταίω

A. hurt by striking against a thing, injure, τὸ γόνυ Hdt. 6.134; τὸν πόδα Plu. Ages. 3: abs., bump oneself, Pl. R. 604c; hurt one's foot, X. HG 3.3.3; stumble, Ar. Pl. 121; πρὸς τὸν οὐδόν Plu. TG 17; ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ Thphr. Char. 15.8; πόδεσσι Q.S. l.c.

2. c. dat. objecti, stumble upon, strike against, τισὶν ὥσπερ προβόλοις D. 10.63; τῷ νόμῳ Porph. Chr. 30.

3. generally, to be checked, πνεῦμα προσπταῖον ἐν τῇ ἄνω φορῇ Hp. Acut. 42; of the tongue, Arist. Pr. 905b30; προσπταίειν . . ποιεῖ τὸν ἀκροατήν Id. Rh. 1409b19.

II. metaph., suffer check or disaster, opp. εὐτυχέω, Hdt. 3.40; of shipwreck, π. περὶ τὸν Ἄθων Id. 7.22; esp. fail in war, suffer defeat, ναυμαχίῃ Id. 9.107; προσπταίσας μεγάλως Id. 1.16, cf. 2.161, 5.62; πρὸς Τεγεήτας lost battles against them, Id. 1.65; τῷ πεζῷ π. πρὸς τοὺς Βρύγους Id. 6.45.

III. c. dat., offend, clash with, τῷ δήμῳ Plu. Per. 32, cf. Cat.Mi. 30.