I.a saviour, deliverer, preserver, c. gen. subjecti, τῆς Ἑλλάδος saviour of Greece, Hdt.; also c. gen. objecti, ς. νόσου, κακῶν a preserver from disease, ills, Soph., Eur.
2.epith. of protecting gods, esp. of Ζεὺς Σωτήρ, Pind., Trag.: to him the third cup of wine was dedicated, τρίτον Σωτῆρι σπένδειν Pind., etc.; proverb., τὸ τρίτον τῷ σωτῆρι the third (i. e. the lucky) time, Plat.; of other gods, as of Apollo, Hermes, Aesch.; even with fem. deities, Τύχη σωτήρ, for σώτειρα, id=Aesch.
3.in NTest. the Saviour.