πρόφασις 1 προφαίνω or πρόφημι
1.that which is alleged as the cause, an allegation, plea, καὶ ἐπὶ μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐπὶ βραχείᾳ ὁμοίως προφάσει to great or small plea alike, Thuc.; πρ. ἀληθεστάτη id=Thuc.
2.mostly in bad sense, a mere pretext, a pretence, excuse, Hdt., etc.; opp. to the true cause (αἰτία), Thuc.: c. gen. the pretext or pretence for a thing, Hdt., etc.:—absol. in acc., πρόφασιν in pretence, Il., attic; πρόφασιν μέν, opp. to τὸ δ᾽ ἀληθές, Thuc.; so in dat., προφάσει id=Thuc.: — ἀπὸ προφάσιος τοιῆσδε from or on some such pretext as this, Hdt., etc.:— προφάσιος εἵνεκεν id=Hdt.:— ἐπὶ προφάσει by way of excuse, Theogn., Thuc.; so, ἐπὶ προφάσιος Hdt.; κατὰ πρόφασιν id=Hdt.:—foll. by an inf., αὕτη ἦν σοι πρ. ἐκβαλεῖν ἐμέ for casting me out, Soph.; πρόφασιν ἔχει τοῖς δειλαίοις μὴ ἰέναι gives them an excuse for not going, Plat.
3.phrases, πρόφασιν διδόναι, ἐνδιδόναι to give occasion, make an excuse, Dem.; πρ. ἐνδοῦναί τινι Thuc.; πρ. προτείνειν, προΐσχεσθαι to put forward an excuse, Hdt.; παρέχειν Ar.; προφάσιας ἕλκειν to keep making pretences, Hdt., etc.; elliptically, μή μοι πρόφασιν (sc. πάρεχε) no excuse, no shuffling, Ar.
II.Pind. personifies Πρόφασις, as daughter of Epimetheus (Afterthought).
III.in Soph. it must mean suggestion.
