A.“χέρνιβος” S.Fr.1127.7, Ar. Lys.1129, Lys.6.52, D.20.158; dat. “χέρνιβι” Ar.Av.897 (lyr.), Th.4.97; pl., freq. in Trag. (v. infr. 2); poet. dat. “χερνίβεσσιν” Simon.44: (χείρ, νίζω):—water for washing the hands, before meals, Od.1.136, 3.440, 4.52, etc.: esp. of holy water used before sacrifices, 3.445, Ar.Av.850, Lys.1129; “ὕδωρ, ὃ ἦν ἄψαυστον σφίσι, πλὴν πρὸς τὰ ἱερὰ χέρνιβι χρῆσθαι” Th. l.c., “εἴργεσθαι χέρνιβος” D. l.c.
2. freq. in pl. χέρνιβες, purifications with holy water, Simon.45, E.Or.1602 Ph.662 (lyr.), etc.; χέρνιβας νέμειν allow the use of holy water, S.OT240; κοινωνὸς χερνίβων a partaker therein, i.e. an inmate of the same house or companion at table, A.Ag.1037; “εἰς ἱέρ᾽ εἰσιόντα καὶ χερνίβων καὶ κανῶν ἁψόμενον” D.22.78, cf. E.IA675, 1479 (lyr.), IT58, 244, 335; “προχύτας χέρνιβάς τ᾽ ἐνάρξεται” Id.IA 955; used before entering the house after a funeral, Id.Alc.100 (lyr., sg.).