A.touchstone, on which pure gold leaves a yellow streak, “ἐς βάσανον δ᾽ ἐλθὼν παρατρίβομαι ὥστε μολύβδῳ χρυσός” Thgn.417; “χρυσὸν τριβόμενον βασάνῳ” Id.450, cf. 1105; “παρατρίβεσθαι πρὸς τὰς β.” Arist.Col.793b1, cf. HA 597b2: metaph., β. τοῦ ἀρώματος (sc. τοῦ κινναμώμου）“ τὴν αἶγα εἶναι” Philostr.VA3.4.
II. the use of this as a test, “χρυσὸς ἐν β. πρέπει” Pi.P.10.67: generally, test, trial of genuineness, οὐκ ἔστιν μείζων β. χρόνου [Simon.]175.1; “δόμεν τι βασάνῳ ἐς ἔλεγχον” Pi.N.8.20; “σοφὸς ὤφθη βασάνῳ θ᾽ ἁδύπολις” S.OT510 (lyr.), cf. 494; “βάσανον λαμβάνειν περί τινος” Pl.Lg.648b; εἰς β. εἶ χερῶν wilt come to a trial of strength, S. OC835; “πλοῦτος β. ἀνθρώπου τρόπων” Antiph.232.5; [νόσου] ἔσχ᾽ ἐπὶ σοὶ βάσανον had experienced it in you, i. e. you had had it first, IG14.1320; βάσανον ὑποκείσονται will be subjected to a test, of candidates, POxy.58.25 (iii A. D.).
III. inquiry by torture, “ἐς πᾶσαν β. ἀπικνέεσθαι” Hdt.8.110; “εἰς β. αἰτεῖν” Herod.2.88; “ἐξετάσαι διὰ βασάνων” SIG780.12 (Astypalaea, Aug.); esp. at Athens, used to extort evidence from slaves, “εἰς β. δέχεσθαι” Antipho1.12; “εἰς β. παραδοῦναι” Is.8.17; ἐκ βασάνων εἰπεῖν ib.12: in pl., confession upon torture, D. 53.24, Hyp.Fr.5, Arist.Rh.1355b37.
2. agony of battle, “ἡ κατὰ τὸ ἔργον β.” S.E.M.6.24; tortures of disease, Ev.Matt.4.24; cf. “ἐπάγρυπνος β.” Vett.Val.211.28; also “ψυχικαί” Id.182.19; torments of hell,Ev.Luc.16.23.
3. trespass-offering, LXX 1 Ki.6.17.—Oriental word.
