A.take more pains than enough about a thing, waste one's labour on it, c. part., “περιεργάζοντο δοκέοντες πρῶτοι ἀνθρώπων γεγονέναι” Hdt.2.15; “Σωκράτης π. ζητῶν τά τε ὑπὸ γῆς καὶ οὐράνια” Pl.Ap.19b; “περιείργασμαι μὲν ἐγὼ περὶ τούτων εἰπὼν περιείργασται δ᾽ ἡ πόλις ἡ πεισθεῖσ᾽ ἐμοί” D.18.72 : c. dat. modi, τῷ θυλάκῳ περιερλάσθαι that they had overdone it with their 'sack' (i.e. need not have used the word), Hdt.3.46; π. τοῖς σημείοις overact one's part, Arist.Po.1462a6; π. τῷ οἰκιδίῳ go to a needless expense with his house, Ael.VH4.11; οὐδὲ περιείργασται ἐν αὐτοῖς nor has he lavished useless pains upon . . , Luc.Herod.6 (but pf. in pass. sense, “πλέον οὐδὲν περιείρλασται τῷ Θέωνι” Ael.VH2.44).
2. c. acc., π. τι καινόν to be busy about 'some new thing', Ar.Ec.220; “αἱ μέλιτται π. τὸ παιδίον” Philostr.Im.2.12; meddle, interfere with, τὰ ἀλλότρια Chiloap.Stob. 3.1.172; “τῶν κατὰ τὴν Ἰταλίαν οὐδέν” Plb.18.51.2 : abs., to be a busybody, D.26.15, 32.28, Men.Epit.358, Lib.Ep.1068.3.
4. in good sense, elaborate, Men.Rh.p.394 S.,al.
