A.strength as displayed in action, prowess, courage, poet. word (also in Hdt., Th., and later Prose, Ti.Locr. 103b, Arist.EN1115b4, Pol.1338a20, etc.), in Hom. joined with “σθένος” Il.17.212, Od.22.237; with “μένος” Il.9.706; with “ἠνορέη” Od.24.509; “ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν” Il.8.262; “φρεσὶν εἱμένος ἀλκήν” 20.381; “δύεσθαι ἀλκήν” 9.231:—later, “χερὸς ἀλκᾷ” Pi.O.10(11).100; “θηρία ἐς ἀλκὴν ἄλκιμα” Hdt. 3.110: generally, force, might, “συνῆψαν ἀλκήν” E.Supp.683; κατ᾽ ἀλκήν, opp. κατὰ σύνεσιν, Arr. Tact.12.11: in pl., feats of strength, bold deeds, Pi.N.7.12, B.10.126, E.Rh.933, Hierocl. p. 33.61A.
II. strength to avert danger, defence, help, “Διὸς ἀ.” Il.15.490, cf.8.140; “οὐδέ τις ἀ.” Od.12.120, 22.305; ποῦ τις ἀ.; A.Pr.546; “ἀ. βελέων” S. Ph.1151; “δορός” E.Ph.1098: also ὰ. τινος defence or aid against thing, Hes.Op. 201, Pi.N.7.96, S.OT218; ἀλκὴν ποιεῖσθαι give aid, OC459; ἀ. τιθέναι make a defence, ib. 1524; ἐς or πρὸς ἀ. τρέπεσθαι turn and resist, stand on one's guard, Hdt.2.45, 3.78, Th.2.84; “στρέψας πρὸς ἀ.” E. Andr.1149; “ἐς ἀ. ἐλθεῖν” Id.Ph.421; “ἀλκῆς μεμνῆσθαι” Hdt.9.70; ἐν οἷς ἐστιν ἀ. where they can defend themselves, Arist.ENl.c.