A.to be a retail-dealer, drive a petty trade, Hdt.1.155, 2.35, Isoc.2.1, Nymphod.21, IG11(2).161 A16 (Delos, iii B. C.), BGU1024 vii 23 (iv A. D.); δι᾽ ἀψύχου βορᾶς σίτοις καπήλευ' drive a trade, chaffer with your vegetable food, E.Hipp.953.
2. metaph., κ. τὰ πρήγματα, of Darius, Hdt.3.89; κ. τὰ μαθήματα sell learning by retail, hawk it about, Pl. Prt.313d; “κ. τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ” 2 Ep.Cor.2.17; so ἔοικεν οὐ καπηλεύσειν μάχην will not peddle in war, i. e. fight half-heartedly, A.Th. 545; “κ. τῇ Χάριτι τὴν ἀμοιβήν” Epicur.Sent.Vat.39; κ. τὴν πολιτείαν traffic in grants of citizenship, D.C.60.17; κ. τῆς ὥρας ἄνθος or τὴν ὥραν, of prostitutes, Ph.2.394,576; εἰρήνην πρὸς Ῥωμαίους Χρυσίου κ. Hdn.6.7.9; τύχη καπηλεύουσα . . τὸν βίον playing tricks with life, corrupting it, AP9.180 (Pall.).