σπᾰθ-άω (spathao)

Where it lives

Clouds 2 · 2.08/10k
On the False Embassy 1 · 0.43/10k

What it meant

σπᾰθ-άω · spath-aō — LSJ

strike the woof with the σπάθη, make, close and strong, close-packed

strike the woof with the σπάθη (q.v.), σ. τὸν ἱστόν make the web close and strong, Philyll. 12, cf. Poll. 7.36:—Pass., metaph., συλλαβαὶ πολλοῖς γράμμασιν ἐσπαθημέναι close-packed, Phld. Po. 2.41.

II are laying it on, thick, were the prodigalities indulged in, were all advantages squandered away

θοἰμάτιον δεικνὺς τοδὶ πρόφασιν ἔφασκον ὦ γύναι, λίαν σπαθᾷς" you are laying it on too thick, a cant phrase for ‘playing ducks and drakes with’ money (perh. with a play on signf. I), Ar. Nu. 55; τὰ πατρῷα βρύκει καὶ σ. Diph. 43.27; σ. τὰ χρήματα Plu. Per. 14; τάλαντα σ. Luc. Cat. 20, cf. Philostr. VA 5.38, Alciphr. 3.34; ἐσπαθᾶτο ταῦτα καὶ ἐδημηγορεῖτο, expld. by Sch. as = ἐδαψιλεύετο, these were the prodigalities indulged in, thus were all advantages squandered away, D. 19.43.

2

= ἀλαζονεύομαι, Men. 347.

III prune

σ. τὰ μεγάλα τῶν φυτῶν prune plants, Philostr. Im. 2.17.

In the wild

ἐσπάθα · espatha Aristophanes, Clouds (DIORISIS sentence 42)
σπαθᾷς · spathais Aristophanes, Clouds (DIORISIS sentence 43)
ἐσπαθᾶτο · espathato Demosthenes, On the False Embassy Narr.43 (DIORISIS sentence 116)

Where it came from

No etymology authority pointer is recorded for this lemma yet — an honest gap, not an omission. The etymological dictionaries (Beekes, Chantraine, Frisk) are matched incrementally.

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