A.care, attention, Hes.Op.412, Epich. [284]: pl., Emp.110.2: c. gen. objecti, μ. πλεόνων care for many things, Hes.Op.380; μελέτην τινὸς ἐχέμεν, = μελετᾶν, ἐπιμελεῖσθαι, ib.457; ἔργων ἐκ πολλοῦ μ. long-continued attention to action, Th.5.69: c. gen. subjecti, care taken by one, “θεῶν μελέτῃ” S.Ph.196 (anap.); of a trainer, B.12.191: abs., “μελέτῃ κατατρύχεσθαι” E.Med.1099 (anap.): pl., Emp.131.2.
II. practice, exercise, “ὀξεῖα μ.” Pi.O.6.37; “ἔχων μ.” Id.N.6.54; ἡ δι᾽ ὀλίγου μ. their short practice, Th.2.85; πόνων μ. painful exercises, of the Spartan discipline, ib.39; “μάθησις καὶ μ.” Pl.Tht.153b; “μ. θανάτου” Id.Phd.81a; “ἡ ἐγκύκλιος τῶν προπαιδευμάτων μ.” Ph.1.157.
b. in a military sense, exercise, drill, μετὰ κινδύνων τὰς μελέτας ποιεῖσθαι to go through one's exercises in actual war, Th.1.18; “ταῖς τῶν πολεμικῶν μ.” Id.2.39; “μ. ἐν ὅπλοις ποιεῖσθαι” IG22.1028.19, al.
c. freq. of orators, rehearsal, declamation, “ταύτης τῆς μελέτης καὶ τῆς ἐπιμελείας” D.18.309, al.; of actors, νήστεις ὄντες τὰς μ. ποιούμενοι making their rehearsals, Arist.Pr.901b3.
d. matter for discussion, “μ. σοφισταῖς προσβαλεῖν” Pi.I.5(4).28; branch or object of study, Pl.Grg.500d, al.; “ὁ νόμος σου μ. μού ἐστιν” LXX Ps.118(119).77.
2. later, theme, lecture, Str.1.2.2, Plu.2.41d, Luc.Rh.Pr.17; declamation, “μελέτῃσί τ᾽ ἄριστον” IG3.625; “τὰς μ. μισθοῦ ποιεῖσθαι” Philostr.VS1.21.5.