I.to make beginning of a thing, c. gen., Aesch.; ὁδοῦ κατάρχειν to lead the way, Soph.:— rarely c. acc. to begin a thing, Plat.:—c. part. to begin doing, Xen.
2.to honour, Eur.
II.Mid. to make a beginning, to begin, like Act., c. gen., id=Eur., Plat.; also c. acc., Eur.: absol., κατάρχεται μέλος is beginning, id=Eur.
2.in religious sense, to begin the sacrificial ceremonies, Νέστωρ χέρνιβά τ᾽ οὐλοχύτας τε κατήρχετο Nestor began [the sacrifice] with the washing of hands and sprinkling the barley on the victim's head, Od.; κατάρχομαι I begin the function, Eur.:—c. gen., κατάρχεσθαι τοῦ τράγου to make a beginning of the victim, i. e. consecrate him for sacrifice by cutting off the hair of his forehead, Ar.; πῶς δ᾽ αὖ κατάρξει θυμάτων; Eur.
c.simply, to strike, Plut.
