1. beginning of a sacrifice, primal offering (of hairs cut from the forehead), “ἀπαρχαὶ κόμης” E.Or.96, cf. Ph.1525 (lyr.); later, a banquet held on this occasion, Plu.2.40b.
2. firstlings for sacrifice or offering, first-fruits, “ἁπάντων ἀπαρχαί” Hdt.4.71; “ἀπαρχὰς ἄγειν θεοῖσι” S.Tr.183; “ἀπαρχὰς θύειν” E.Fr.516; “ἀ. σκυλευμάτων” Ph.857; “ἐπιφέρειν ἀ. τῶν ὡραίων” Th. 3.58; “τῶν ὄντων” Is.5.42, cf. Epicur.Fr.130, etc.:—so also in sg., “λείας ἀ.” S.Tr.761; “ἀ. τῶν πατρω̈́ων χρημάτων” Hdt.1.92, etc.; “ἀνθρώπων ἀ. εἰς Δελφοὺς ἀποστέλλειν” Arist.Fr.485; “ἀ. ἀπό τινος ἀνατιθέναι” Hdt. 4.88; inscribed on votive offerings, [“ἀνέθηκεν] . . τόδ᾽ α.” IG1.382, etc.; freq. in LXX, as Ex.25.2, al., cf. Ep.Rom.11.16, and metaph., “ἀ. τῶν κεκοιμημένων” 1 Ep.Cor.15.20; “τῶν κτισμάτων” Ep.Jac.1.18.
3. metaph., “ἀπαρχαὶ τῶν ἐμῶν προσφθεγμάτων” E.Ion402; “ἀπαρχὴν τῆς σοφίας ἀνέθεσαν” Pl.Prt.343b, etc.; “ἀ. ἀπὸ φιλοσοφίας” Plu.2.172c.
4. tax on inheritances, PTaur.1.7.10; tax paid by Jews, Stud.Pal.4.72 (i A. D.).
5. entrance fee, PTeb.316.10 (i A.D.), al.
6. board of officials (cf. sq.), IG12(8).273 (Thasos).
7. birth-certificate of a free person, PTeb.316.10 (i A. D.), PGnom.131 (ii A. D.): perh. metaph. in Ep.Rom.8.23.
