A.from the foundations, from or by the roots, προθελύμνους ἕλκετο χαίτας he tore his hair out by the roots, Il. 10.15, cf. Q.S.3.411; προθέλυμνα χαμαὶ βάλε δένδρεα he threw to earth trees uprooted, Il.9.541; “ἐφόρει τὰς δρῦς . . προθελύμνους” Ar.Eq. 528; “προθέλυμνόν μ᾽ ἀπώλεσας” Id.Pax1210, cf. Call.Del.134, Q.S. 6.331, Tryph.397.
II. perh. close-packed, of shields overlapping in the phalanx, “φράξαντες σάκος σάκεϊ προθελύμνῳ” Il.13.130; expld. by Gramm. as = ἐπάλληλος, συνεχής, and so used by Nonn.D.22.183; also πέτρην προθέλυμνον ἐπασσυτέρῃ θέτο πέτρῃ ib.2.374.