A.prop, support: in pl., of the props used to keep ships upright when hauled ashore, “νῆα..ἐπ᾽ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν ὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δ᾽ ἕρματα μακρὰ τάνυσσαν” Il.1.486, cf. 2.154: metaph., of men, ἕ. πόληος prop or stay of the city, 16.549, Od.23.121, Epigr.Gr. 452.11 (Syria); τοῦτο..οἷον ἕ. πόλεως κείσθω as a foundation for the city, Pl.Lg.737b; “ὥσπερ ἕ. τῆς πολιτείας βέβαιον” Plu.2.814c; “ἕ. ἐχέγγυον [ἑταιρίας]” D.C.Fr.40.15; “ὥσπερ ἕρματος ἀεὶ δεόμενοι τῆς τροφῆς” Gal.19.208.
2. sunken rock, reef, Alc.Supp.26.6, Hdt.7.183, Th. 7.25, E.Hel.854; “ἄσημα ἕ.” Anacr.38; “ἄφαντον ἕ.” A.Ag.1007(lyr.), cf.Eu.564 (lyr.); “ἕ. ὕφαλα” D.H.1.52; ἕ. γῆς ἁπαλόν a soft bank of mud, App.BC5.101.
3. cairn, barrow, “πρὸς ἕρμα τυμβόχωστον..τάφου” S.Ant.848 (lyr., nisi leg. ἕργμα); Ἑρμᾶν ἀφετήριον ἕρμα starting-post, AP9.319 (Philox.); ἕρματα τῶν θεμελίων ruins of the foundations, D.S.5.70.
4. that which keeps a ship steady, ballast, Plu.2.782b; of stones with which cranes and bees were supposed to steady themselves in their flight, Arist.HA597b1, 626b25; “μετὰ τῶν γεράνων ἀναχωρῶ πάλιν, ἀνθ᾽ ἕρματος πολλὰς καταπεπωκὼς δίκας” Ar.Av.1429 : metaph., “τῆς ψυχῆς ἐχούσης ἕ.” Chrysipp.Stoic.2.299; “τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς φρονήσεως ἕ.” Socr. ap. Stob.3.3.61; “οἷον ἕ. τὴν τῶν γερόντων ἀρχὴν θεμένη” Plu.Lyc.5; “οὔτε τι ἕ. ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ ἔχει” D.C.46.3; also λαβοῦσα ἕ. Δῖον having conceived by Zeus, A.Supp.580 (lyr.); so perh. μελαινέων ἕρμ᾽ ὀδυνάων freight of dark pains, Il.4.117 (athetized by Aristarch.).
II. (εἴρω A) in pl., “ἕρματα” ear-rings, 14.182, Od.18.297; band, noose, Ael. NA17.35; a serpent's coils, ib.37.