A.“λῦθι” Pi.Fr.85: fut. λύσω [υ_] Il.1.29, etc.: aor. “ἔλυ_σα” 18.244, etc.: pf. “λέλυ^κα” Th.7.18, Ar.V.992 (ἀπο-), etc.:— Pass., pf. “λέλυ^μαι” Il.8.103, etc.: plpf. ἐλελύμην [υ^] Od.22.186, etc.: aor. ἐλύθην, Ep. λύθην [υ^] 8.360, E.Hel.860, Th.2.103, etc.: fut. “λυ^θήσομαι” Pl.Ti.41b, Isoc.12.116, etc., also λελύσομαι [υ_] D.14.2, X. Cyr.6.2.37 (ἀπο-): Ep. aor. Pass. λύμην [υ^] Il.21.80; λύτο [υ^] ib.114, but “λῦτο” 24.1 (at beginning of line, v.l. λύτο); “λύντο” 7.16: also 3sg. opt. pf. “λελῦτο” Od.18.238:—Med., fut. “λύσομαι” Il.1.13, etc.: aor. “ἐλυσάμην” 14.214: pf. Pass. λέλῦμαι in med. sense, D.36.45, Arist.Rh. 1400a22 (cf. δια-, κατα-λύω): fut. λύσομαι in pass. sense, (δια-) Th.2.12, (ἐπι-) Lys.25.33 codd. (καταλύσεσθαι edd.), (κατα-) X.Cyr.1.6.9.—Homer uses all tenses exc. pf. Act., pres. and fut. Pass. [In pres. and impf. υ_ always in Att., υ^ mostly in Ep., though Hom. has υ_ twice, “ἔλυ_εν” Il.23.513, λυ_ει Od.7.74; also in compds., “ἀλλυ_εσκεν” 2.105, ἀλλυ_ουσαν ib.109: in fut. and aor. 1 υ_ always: in other tenses υ^ always, exc. in the forms λελῦτο, λῦτο (v. supr.).] (Cf. Lat. luo (pay), re-luo, solvo (for se-luo), solūtus, etc.):—loosen:
I. of things, unbind, unfasten, esp. clothes and armour, λῦσε δέ οἱ ζωστῇρα, θώρηκα, Il.4.215, 16.804; λ. παρθενίην ζώνην loose the maiden-girdle, of the husband after marriage, Od. 11.245; of the wife, “λύοι χαλινὸν ὑφ᾽ ἥρωϊ παρθενίας” Pi.I.8(7).48; “ἔνθα παρθένει᾽ ἔλυσ᾽ ἐγὼ κορεύματα” E.Alc.177; so “ἔλυσας . . ἅγνευμα σόν” Id.Tr.501; freq. of the tackling of ships, λ. πρυμνήσια, ἱστία, λαῖφος, etc., Od.2.418, 15.496, 552, h.Ap.406, etc. (never in Il.); λ. πρύμνας, νεῶν πόδα, E.Hec.539,1020, etc.: abs., λύειν, of ships, set sail, “λῦε, κυβερνήτα” APl.1.6*.9 (Panteleus); ἀσκὸν λ. untie a skin (used as a bag), Od.10.47: freq. in Trag., λ. στολάς, πέπλον, S.OC1597, Tr.924; λ. ἡνίαν slacken the rein, Id.El.743; κλῄθρων λυθέντων when the gates have been opened, A.Th.396; λ. γράμματα, δέλτον, open a letter, E.IA38 (anap.), 307; λ. πέδας, δεσμά, A.Eu. 645 (Pass.), E.HF1123; “ἀρβύλας” A.Ag.945; ἀρτάνας . . δέρης ἔλυσαν loosed it from my neck, ib.876, cf. E.Hipp.781:—Med., ἀπὸ στήθεσφιν ἐλύσατο κεστὸν ἱμάντα undid her belt, Il.14.214; but λύοντο τεύχεα they undid the armour for themselves, i.e. stripped it off (others), 17.318; later λυσαμένα πλοκαμῖδας unbinding her hair, Bion 1.20, etc.
b. in various phrases, στόμα λ. open the mouth, E.Hipp.1060, Isoc.12.96; “γλώσσας λ. εἰς αἰσχροὺς μύθους” Critias 6.9 D.; λ. βλεφάρων ἕδραν wake up, E.Rh.8 (anap.); λ. ὀφρύν unfold the brow, Id.Hipp.290; “λ. ἄχος ἀπ᾽ ὀμμάτων” S.Aj.706 (lyr.), etc.
2. of living beings,
a. of horses, etc., unyoke, unharness, opp. ζεύγνυμι, Od.4.35; ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπὲξ ὀχέων, Il.5.369,8.504; “ὑφ᾽ ἅρμασιν” 18.244; “ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ” Od.4.39: “ὑπὸ ζυγόφιν” Il.24.576; “ὑπ᾽ ἀπήνης” Od.7.6 (also in Med., μὴ . . ὑπ᾽ ὄχεσφι λυώμεθα μώνυχας ἵππους unyoke our horses, Il. 23.7; “βόε λῦσαι” Hes.Op.608); λύε μώνυχας ἵππους loosed them, Il.10.498; λ. κύνα let him loose, X.Cyn.6.13, etc.
b. of men, release, deliver, esp. from bonds or prison, and so, generally, from difficulty or danger, Il.15.22, Od.8.345, 12.53, D.24.206, etc.; ὁ λύσων he that shall deliver, A.Pr.771,785: c. gen. rei, “τὸν . . θεοὶ κακότητος ἔλυσαν” Od.5.397, cf. Pi.P.3.50, etc.; “λ. τινὰ δεσμῶν” A.Pr.1006; “ὄκνου” S. Tr.181; “τὼ . . ἐκ δεσμοῖο λύθεν” Od.8.360, cf. Pi.O.4.23, A.Pr.873, E.Hipp.1244, Pl.R.360c; also λ. δόμους ἁβρότατος rob the house of . . , Pi.P.11.34; λ. τινὰ τῆς ἀρχῆς depose him from . . , D.S.13.92:—Med., prop. get one loosed or set free, “λύσασθαί τινα δυσφροσυνάων” Hes.Th.528; “ὅσπερ Ἰὼ πημονᾶς ἐλύσατο” A.Supp.1065 (lyr.):—Pass., “λυθῆναι τὰς πέδας” D.S.17.116; λέλυται γὰρ λαὸς ἐλεύθερα βάζειν, ὡς ἐλύθη ζυγὸν ἀλκᾶς has been let loose to speak, since the yoke was loosed, A.Pers.592 (lyr.).
c. of prisoners, release on receipt of ransom, admit to ransom, release, Il.1.29, 24.137,555, etc.; “λ. τινά τινι” 1.20, 24.561, Od.10.298; Σαρπηδόνος ἔντεα καλὰ λύσειαν would give them up, Il.17.163; in full, “λ. τινὰ ἀποίνων” 11.106; “χρημάτων μεγάλων” Hdt.2.135 (Pass.); “ἀνὴρ ἀντ᾽ ἀνδρὸς λυθείς” Th.5.3:—Med., release by payment of ransom, get a person released, redeem, Il.1.13, 24.118, al., Od.10.284,385, Pl.Mx.243c, D.19.229; “λύσασθαί τινας ἐκ πολεμίων” Lys.12.20; “ἵππον” X.An.7.8.6; “ὅσους αὐτὸς ἐλυσάμην τῶν αἰχμαλώτων” D.19.169; “λ. τινὶ τὸ χωρίον” Id.50.28; ἑαυτοὺς λ. pay their own ransom, Id.19.169; buy from a pimp, Ar.V.1353.
3. give up, [“θρόνον] λῦσον ἄμμιν” Pi.P.4.155.
II. resolve a whole into its parts, dissolve, break up, λ. ἀγορήν dissolve the assembly, Il.1.305; “ἀγορὰς ἠμὲν λύει ἠδὲ καθίζει” Od.2.69, etc.:—Pass., “λῦτο δ᾽ ἀγών” Il.24.1; “μὴ λυθείη ἡ στρατιά” X.Cyr.6.1.2; πρὶν <ἂν> . . ἡ ἀγορὰ (market) “λυθῇ” Id.Oec. 12.1; “λυθείσης τῆς συνουσίας” Plb.5.15.3.
2. of concrete objects, σπάρτα λέλυνται, i. e. have rotted, Il.2.135; “ῥαφαὶ δ᾽ ἐλέλυντο ἱμάντων” Od.22.186; λ. τὴν σχεδίην break it up, Hdt.4.97; [τὴν γέφυραν] X. An.2.4.17; τὴν ἀπόφραξιν ib.4.2.25.
3. esp. of physical strength, loosen, i. e. weaken, relax, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα made his limbs slack or loose, i. e. killed him, Il.4.469, al.; “ὅς τοι γούνατ᾽ ἔλυσα” 22.335; “πολλῶν τε καὶ ἐσθλῶν γούνατ᾽ ἔλυσεν” 5.176, etc.; “ἀλλά οἱ αὖθι λῦσε μένος” 16.332; “πέλεκυς λῦσεν . . βοὸς μένος” Od.3.450, cf. Il.17.29; but οἵ μοι καμάτῳ . . γούνατ᾽ ἔλυσαν made my knees weak with toil, Od.20.118:—Pass., λύντο δὲ γυῖα, etc., as the effect of death, sleep, weariness, fear, Il. 7.16, etc.; “καμάτῳ φίλα γυῖα λέλυντο” 13.85, cf. Od.8.233; “αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ” Il.21.114,425; “λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε” 5.296, etc.; “λύθεν δέ οἱ ἅψεα πάντα” Od.4.794, 18.189; “λέλυται γυίων ῥώμη” A.Pers.913 (anap.); “λύεται δέ μου μέλη” E.Hec.438; “λέλυμαι μελέων σύνδεσμα” Id.Hipp.199 (anap.).
b. λύει βλέφαρα closes her eyes in sleep, S.Ant.1302.
c. metaph., “λ. τὴν ἐν ταῖς ψυχαῖς πρὸς μάχην παρασκευήν” X.HG7.5.22.
4. undo, bring to naught, destroy, “πολίων κάρηνα” Il.9.25; “Τροίης κρήδεμνα” 16.100, Od.13.388, cf. B.Fr.16.7: generally, put an end to, “νείκεα” Il.14.205; “μελεδήματα” 23.62; “ἔριν” E.Ph.81, AP9.316.12 (Leon.); “πόλεμον” Th.5.31; “ἐπιμομφάν” Pi.O.10(11).9; “μέμψιν” Democr.271; “φόβον” A.Th.270; φόβον καὶ τὴν ὑποψίαν Polystr.p.7 W., cf. Epicur.Sent.12; “μοχθήματα” S.OC1616; “ἀνάγκας” E.Supp.39; βίον, i.e. die, Id.IT692; αἰῶν᾽ ἔλυσε, i.e. died, B.1.43; “λ. τὸ τέλος βίον” S.OC1720 (lyr.); μαχας Ar. Pax991 (anap.); “νοσήματα” Diocl.Fr.35 (Pass.), cf. Gal.6.476; “κόπους” Dsc.Eup.1.220; forgive, “ἁμαρτήματα” LXXJb.42.9.
b. in Prose, λ. νόμους repeal or annul laws, Hdt.3.82, D.3.10, Arist.Pol.1269a15; οὐθὲν τῶν περὶ τὴν πολιτείαν ib.1298b31; “λ. ψήφῳ τὸ παράνομον” Aeschin. 3.197 (Pass.), etc.; “ἐπεὶ ἐκεῖνοι ἔλυσαν τὰς σπονδὰς λελύσθαι μοι δοκεῖ ἡ ἐκείνων ὕβρις καὶ ἡ ἡμετέρα ὑποψία” X.An.3.1.21; rescind a vote, “ψῆφον λύει ὁ νόμος” D.24.2; revoke a will, “διαθήκην” Is.6.33, etc. (but in Pass., to be opened, of a will, POxy.715.19 (ii A. D.), etc.); unbind a spell, Iamb.Myst.3.27:—Pass., λέλυται πάντα all ties are broken, all is in confusion, D.25.25.
c. as a technical term, solve a difficulty, a problem, a question, “λύεται ἡ ἀπορία” Pl.Prt.324e, al.; “λ. ζήτημα” Gal.6.436.
e. unravel the plot of a tragedy, opp. πλέκειν, Id.Po.1456a10.
5. break a legal agreement or obligation, “τὸν νόμον” Hdt.6.106; “τὰς σπονδάς” Th.1.23, 78, cf. 4.23, al.; “τὰ συγκείμενα” Lys.6.41; σίς κε τὰς ϝρήτας τάσδε λύση whoso breaks this agreement, Inscr.Cypr.135.29 H.
6. in physical sense, dissolve, λύθεν, opp. πάγεν, Emp.15.4; τὸ θερμὸν λύει, opp. πήγνυσι, Arist.Mete.384b11, cf. 382b33 (Pass.); “ἀμμωνιακὸν ὄξει λύσας” Gal.11.106; melt, “παγείσας χιόνας” Hdn.8.4.2; “τι πυρὶ λ.” Hippiatr.52.
7. of medicines, “λ. τὴν κοιλίαν” Arist.Pr.863b29, cf. Hp.Acut.(Sp.)38, Diocl.Fr.140; so of the effects of terror, Arist.Pr.877a32 (Pass.).
IV. atone for, make up for, “τὰς πρότερον ἁμαρτίας” Ar.Ra. 691; “λύσων ὅσ᾽ ἐξήμαρτον” S.Ph.1224; “λ. φόνον φόνῳ” Id.OT101, E. Or.511; “αἱ πρόσοδοι λύουσι τἀναλώματα” Diph.32.5:—Med., “τῶν πάλαι πεπραγμένων λύσασθ᾽ αἷμα . . δίκαις” A.Ch.804 (lyr.).
V. μισθὸν λύειν pay wages in full, quit oneself of them, used only in cases of obligation, X.Ages.2.31.
2. τέλη λύειν, = λυσιτελεῖν, pay, profit. avail, ἔνθα μὴ τέλη λύει φρονοῦντι where it boots not to be wise, S.OT 316: but more freq. λύει without τέλη, construed like λυσιτελεῖ, abs., “λύει δ᾽ ἄλγος” E.Med.1362, cf. PSI4.400.16: c. dat. pers., “φημὶ τοιούτους γάμους λύειν βροτοῖσιν” E.Alc.628, cf.Hipp.441: c. inf., πῶς οὖν λύει . . ἐπιβάλλειν; Id.Med.1112 (anap.); ἐμοί τελύειτοῖσιμέλλουσιν τέκνοις τὰ ζῶντ᾽ ὀνῆσαι it is good for me to benefit my living children by means of those to come, ib.566; “λύει ἀπελθεῖν” UPZ77i12 (ii B.C.): c. acc. et inf., λύει γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδέν, οὐδ᾽ ἐπωφελεῖ, . . θανεῖν it is not expedient that we should die (οὐδ᾽ ἐπωφελεῖ being parenthetic), S.El. 1005; “οὐ γάρ με λύει . . κακορροθεῖσθαι” E.Sthen.Prol.35; cf. λυσιτελέω.
