A.strive after, seek to obtain, aim at, mostly c. gen., σκοπέλου ἐπιμαίεο make for (i.e.steer for) the rock, Od.12.220:metaph., ἐπιμαίεο νόστου strive after a return, 5.344; δώρων ἐπεμαίετο θυμός his mind was set upon presents, Il.10.401; “λουτρῶν” Theoc.23.57; φυγῆς Timo 5.7: c. dat., to be set upon, Orph.A.932.—Ep. word, dub. in S. l.c.
II.. c. acc., lay hold of, grasp, ξίφεος δ᾽ ἐπεμαίετο κώπην he clutched his sword-hilt, Od.11.531; τῶν ὁπότ᾽ ἰθύσειε . . ἐπὶ χερσὶ μάσασθαι ib.591; χείρ᾽ (i.e. χειρἴ ἐπιμασσάμενος having clutched [the sword] with my hand, 9.302, cf. 19.480; τὴν ἐπεμάσσατο χειρός took her by the hand, A.R.3.106.
2.. touch, handle, feel, ὀΐων ἐπεμαίετο “νῶτα” Od.9.441; τὸν δ᾽ ἐπιμασσάμενος προσέφη . . Πολύφημος ib. 446; τὴν (sc. “οὐλὴν̓ γνῶ ῥ᾽ ἐπιμασσαμένη” 19.468; “ἐπὶ νῶτ᾽ ἐπεμαίετο” Hes.Fr.166; “ἕλκος δ᾽ ἰητὴρ ἐπιμάσσεται ἠδ᾽ ἐπιθήσει φάρμαχ᾽” Il.4.190; “ὣς ἄρα μιν . . ῥάβδῳ ἐπεμάσσατ᾽ Ἀθήνη” Od.13.429, cf. 16.172; μάστιγι θοῶς ἐπεμαίετ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἵππους she touched the horses sharply with the whip, Il.5.748, etc.; “κεφαλὰν ἐπεμάσσατο” stroked, AP7.730 (Pers.): metaph., πυρὸς δ᾽ ἐπεμαίετο τέχνην, Lat. artem tractavit, h.Merc.108; “νόῳ ἐ. ἕκαστα” A.R.3.816.
III.. later abs., of night, come slowly on, Orph.A.121.
