A.lighten a ship by throwing out part of its cargo, Hdt. 8.118 (Pass.): metaph., ἐ. ἡ τιμὴ τοὺς πόνους τῷ ἄρχοντι lightens his labours, X.Cyr.1.6.25; “τὰς συμφοράς” D.23.70; “λειτουργίας” IG14.1078a; “τὴν ταλαιπωρίαν” Jul.adThem.253b: c.gen. rei, relieve of a burden, “μόχθου” E.El.72; “τοῦ δέους” D.C.43.18:—Med., ταῖς διὰ τὴν ἀρετὴν “ἡδοναῖς τὸν πόνον -ίζομαι” LXX 4 Ma.9.31.
II.. lift up, support, πατρὸς “πλευρὰς σὺν ἐμοὶ τάσδ᾽ ἐπικούφιζ᾽” S.Aj.1411 (anap.); ἐ. τὴν γῆν lift up the soil,X.Oec.17.13.
2.. metaph., lift up, encourage, “ἐλπίσι” Id.Cyr.7.1.18.