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ῥόμβος or ῥύμβος , , (ῥέμβω)
A.bull-roarer, instrument whirled round on the end of a string, used in the mysteries, “ῥόμβου θ᾽ εἱλισσομένα κύκλιος ἔνοσις αἰθερίαE.Hel.1362, cf. Archyt.1, Theoc.2.30; as a boy's toy, AP6.309 (Leon.), Orph.Fr.31.29, Fr.34, M.Ant.5.36; defined as ξυλήφιον, οὗ ἐξῆπται τὸ σπαρτίον, καὶ ἐν ταῖς τελεταῖς ἐδονεῖτο, ἵνα ῥοιζῇ, Sch.Clem.Al.Protr.2.17.2, cf. Hsch.
2. magic wheel, spun alternately in each direction by the torsion of two cords passed through two holes in it, used as a love-charm, Luc.DMeretr. 4.5; called ἴυγξ in Theoc.2.17, AP5.204; Lat. rhombus, Prop.2.28.35, Ov.Am.1.8.7.
3. tambourine or kettle-drum, used in the worship of Rhea and of Dionysus, Ar.Fr.303, Diog.Ath.1.3, A.R. 1.1139, AP6.165 (Phal.); “ῥύμβος ξύλινος ἐπίχρυσοςIG22.1456.49, cf. 1517.207.
4. membrum virile, PLond.1821.164.
II. whirling motion, as of a bull-roarer, ἀκόντων ἱέντα ῥόμβον shooting forth whirling darts, Pi.O.13.94; αἰετοῦ . the eagle's swoop, Id.I.4(3).47(65); “. τυπάνωνId.Dith.Oxy.1604 Fr.1 ii 9; “ἐν αἰθερίῳ ῥύμβῳCritias 19.2D.; ῥόμβου ἀπειρεσίου δινεύμασιν οἶμον ἐλαύνων, of the Sun, Orph.H. 8.7: metaph., “Νέμεσις καὶ . ἀλάστωρIG14.1389ii34 (perh. an Adj., = ῥεμβός).—The Gramm. hold ῥύμβος to be Att., ῥόμβος Hellenic, Sch.Theoc.2.30, Ath.7.330b.
B. rhombus, lozenge, i.e. a four-sided figure with all the sides, but only the opposite angles, equal, Arist.Mech.854b16, Euc.1 Def. 22.
b. . στερεός, a figure composed of two cones on opposite sides of the same base, Archim.Sph.Cyl.1.26, al.
2. a species of fish, of which turbot and brill are varieties, so called from its rhomblike shape, Nausicr.2.13; Ῥωμαῖοι καλοῦσι τὴν ψῆτταν . Ath.7.330b, cf. ψῆττα.
3. surgical bandage, so called from its shape, Hp. Off.7, Heliod. ap. Orib.48.20.14.
4. pattern of the same shape, in weaving cloth, Democr.Eph.1; διαπλοκὴ ῥόμβων Aristeas 74.
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hide References (7 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (7):
    • Euclid, Elements, 1
    • Euripides, Helen, 1362
    • Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1.1134
    • Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1.1139
    • Hippocrates, De officina medici, 7
    • Lucian, Dialogi meretricii, 4.5
    • Marcus Aurelius, M. Antonius Imperator Ad Se Ipsum, 5.36
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