A.taking, esp. of a town, Hdt.4.1, etc.; ἡ βασιλέος αἵ. the taking by the king, Id.9.3; “ἐλπίζων ταχίστην -σιν ἔσεσθαι” Th. 2.75; αἵ. δυνάμεως acquisition of power, Pl.Grg.513a:—generally, taking, receiving, “ἐπιγενημάτων” PTeb.27.66 (ii B. C.).
B. (αἱρέομαι) choice, “αἵρεσίν τ᾽ ἐμοὶ δίδου” A.Pr.779; “τῶνδε . . αἵρεσιν παρδίδωμι” Pi.N.10.82; foll. by relat., αἵ. διδόναι ὁκοτέρην . . , εἰ . . , etc., Hdt.1.11, cf. D.22.19; αἵ. προτιθέναι, προβάλλειν, Pl. Tht.196c, Sph.245b; “εἰ νέμοι τις αἵρεσιν” S.Aj.265; “αἵρεσιν λαβεῖν” D.36.11; “ποιεῖσθαι” Isoc.7.19; “αἵ. γίγνεταί τινι” Th.2.61; οὐκ ἔχει αἵρεσιν it admits no choice, Plu.2.708b.
2. choice, election of magistrates, Th.8.89, cf. Arist.Pol.1266a26, al.; αἱρέσει, opp. κλήρῳ, 1300a19, etc.
3. inclination, choice, πρός τινα Philipp. ap. D.18.166, Plb.2.61.9, etc., cf. IG2.591b; opp. φυγή, Epicur.Ep.3p.62U.; περὶ αἱρέσεων καὶ φυγῶν, title of treatise by Epicurus.
II. purpose, course of action or thought, like προαίρεσις, Pl.Phdr.256c; “ἡ αἵ. τῆς πρεσβείας” Aeschin. 2.11; αἵ. Ἐλληνική the study of Greek literature, Plb.39.1.3:—conduct, PTeb.28.10 (ii B. C.).
2. system of philosophic principles, or those who profess such principles, sect, school, Plb.5.93.8, D.S.2.29, Polystr.p.20 W., D.H.Amm.1.7, Comp.2,al., cf. Cic.Fam.15.16.3; κατὰ τῶν αἱ., title of treatise by Antipater of Tarsus; περὶ αἱρέσεων, title of Menippean satire by Varro, cf. Fr.164; αἵρεσις πρὸς Γοργιππίδην, title of work by Chrysippus, D.L.7.191; esp. religious party or sect, of the Essenes, J.BJ2.8.1; the Sadducees and Pharisees, Act.Ap.5.17, 15.5, 26.5; the Christians, ib.24.5,14, 28.22, generally, faction, party, App.BC5.2.
3. corps of epheboi, OGI 176 (Egypt).
III. proposed condition, proposal, D.H.3.10.
3. freewill offering, opp. vow, LXX Le.22.18,al.
4. bid at auction, “τὴν ἀμείνονα αἵ. διδόντι παραδοθῆναι” POxy.716.22 (ii A. D.), cf. 1630.8 (iii A. D.).