προστατέω

A. ruleover, lord it over, χθονός E. Heracl. 206; αἰσχρὸν προστατεῖν γε δωμάτων γυναῖκα Id. El. 932; τῆς πόλεως Pl. Grg. 519c; τῶν μεγίστων Id. La. 197e; π. τοῦ ἀγῶνος to be steward of the games, X. An. 4.8.25; π. νούσου, of a physician, to be in charge, Hp. Praec. 13; τοῦ λύχνου τῶν ἱερῶν POxy. 1453.14 (i B.C.): abs., ὁ προστατῶν he that acts as chief, v.l. in X. Cyr. 8.3.25; ὅταν δημοκρατουμένη πόλις ἐλευθερίας διψήσασα κακῶν οἰνοχόων προστατούντων τύχῃ Pl. R. 562d; = προστατεύω 11, X. Mem. 2.7.9; π. τοῦ θεμελιωθῆναι τὴν σύνοδον IG 22.1343.14:—Pass., προστατεῖσθαι ὑπό τινων to be ruled or led by them, X. Hier. 5.1.

b. to be president, ἐκκλησίας Ἀρχ. Ἐφ. 1914.180 (Gonni); βουλᾶς IG 14.612 (Rhegium).

II. stand before as a defender, to be guardian or protector of, πυλῶν A. Th. 396; Ἥρα π. [Ἀργείων] E. Heracl. 349; ἁ διὰ παντὸς Χερσονασιτᾶν προστατοῦσα Παρθένος IPE 12.352.23 (ii/i B.C.); ἀναίδειαν, ἥπερ μόνη π. ῥητόρων Ar. Eq. 325 (lyr.); πολιτῶν π. αἱρούμενον Men. 578.

2. π. περὶ τοῦ ἀνατεθέντος ἀργυρίου bring forward a measure respecting . . , IG 9(1).694.106 (Corc.).

III. ὁ προστατῶν χρόνος the time that stands before, i.e. is close at hand, S. El. 781 (cf. Sch. ad loc.), unless rather tyrannous.