A.anything thrown forward or projecting, πόντου π. ἁλίκλυστον sea-washed promontory, S.Aj.1219 (lyr.).
II. anything put before one as a defence, bulwark, barrier, “προβλήματα ἀντ᾽ ἀσπίδων ἐποιεῦντο γεράνων δοράς” Hdt.7.70, cf.4.175; “τῶν . . π. τὰ μὲν πρὸς τὸν πόλεμον ὁπλίσματα, τὰ δὲ φράγματα” Pl.Plt. 279d sq., cf. Sph.261a; σώματος π., of a shield, A.Th.540; νεῶν προβλήματα, of a wall, E.Rh.213; χαλκᾶ προβλήματα the brazen armour of horses, X.Cyr.6.1.51.
2. c.gen. objecti, defence against a thing, “αἰχμῆς καὶ πέτρων” A.Th.676; “χείματος προβλήματα” E.Supp. 208; “π. χειμώνων” Pl.Ti.74b; “π. κακῶν” Ar.V.615; “κρύους π. ποιοῦνται τὴν ἐσθῆτα” Plu.2.691d; but,
3. μηδὲν φόβου π. μηδ᾽ αἰδοῦς ἔχειν to have neither fear nor reverence as a defence, S.Aj.1076; τὸν ποταμὸν π. λαβεῖν, ποιήσασθαι, Plb.2.66.1, 3.14.5.
III. anything put forward as an excuse, “π. τοῦ τρόπου” D.45.69; λαβὼν π. σαυτοῦ παῖδα making a screen of him, S.Ph.1008.
IV. task. business, E.El.985, Gal.11.250.
2. problem in Geometry, etc., Pl.R.530b, Tht.180csq., Plu. Marc.14, 19, etc.; “φυσικὰ π.” Epicur.Ep.2p.36U.; οἱ κατὰ πρόβλημα λόγοι (opp. τὰ ἐν τῷ βίῳ) theoretical, Phld.Lib.p.59 O.
3. in the Logic of Arist., question as to whether a statement is so or not, Arist. Top.101b28, cf. 104b1: τὰ π. title of work by Arist., cf. Mete.363a24, PA676a18, GA747b5, cf. προβληματικός; also of the extant work wrongly ascribed to Arist.
4. practical or theoretical problem, “εἰς π. παμμέγεθες ἐνέπεσε” Plb.28.13.9; “εὕροντο λύσιν τοῦ π.” Id.30.19.5; “ἐν προβλήμασιν ἢ κρίνομεν ἢ βουλευόμεθα” Hermog.Inv.1.1.
5. riddle, “π. προβάλλειν” LXX Jd.14.12.