I.to draw to oneself, i. e. draw out of danger, to rescue, save, deliver, Hom., Hes., etc.; ῥ. τινα ὑπὲκ θανάτου, ὑπὲκ κακοῦ to save from . . , Hom.;—so c. gen., ῥ. τινα τοῦ μὴ κατακαυθῆναι Hdt.; or c. inf. alone, ῥ. τινα θανεῖν or μὴ κατθανεῖν Eur.: also, to save from an illness, cure, Hdt.: to set free, redeem, Il.; ἐκ δουλοσύνης Hdt.
II.generally, to shield, guard, protect, of guardian gods, chiefs, etc., Il. etc.:—of defensive armour, id=Il.
2.Soph. has ῥῦσαι in a double sense, ῥῦσαι σεαυτὸν . . , ῥῦσαι δὲ μίασμα τοῦ τεθνηκότος deliver thyself,—and deliver us from the pollution; so, ῥ. τὰς αἰτίας to remove the charges, Thuc.
III.to draw back, to hold back, check, Od., Pind.
IV.to keep off, Pind.