I. Hom. (only in Il.), ransom or price paid, whether to recover one's freedom when taken prisoner, “φέρων ἀπερείσι᾽ ἄ.” Il.1.13; οὐκ ἀπεδέξατ᾽ ἄ. ib.95,al., cf. Hdt.6.79; or to save one's life, Il.6.46, 10.380, al., Thgn.727; or for the corpse of a slain friend, “ὃς ἄ. φέροι καὶ νεκρὸν ἄγοιτο” Il.24.139: freq. with gen. of the person ransomed, ἄ. κούρης, υἷος, ransom for them, 1.111, 2.230 ; “νεκροῖο δὲ δέξαι ἄ.” 24.137.
II. generally, atonement, compensation, penalty, “ἂψ ἐθέλω ἀρέσαι δόμεναί τ᾽ ἀπερείσι᾽ ἄ.” 9.120, cf. Hdt.9.120; ὕβρεως, μιασμάτων ἄ., for violence, etc., A.Pers.808, Ag.1420, cf. 1670, E.Ba.516, Alc.7; in IT 1459 τῆς σῆς σφαγῆς ἄ. prob. redemption, rescue from death.—Rare in Prose, “ἀποίνοις ἐξιλασθῆναι” Pl.Lg.862c, cf. Hdt. l.c., Parth.8. 5.