A.carried before, placed before, excelling, c. gen., “ἀλλάων προφερής τ᾽ ἦν πρεσβυτάτη τε” Hes.Sc.260: Hom. only Comp. (exc. Sup., “ἅλματι . . πάντων προφερέστατος” Od.8.128), more excellent, “τῶν δ᾽ ἄλλων ἐμέ φημι πολὺ προφερέστερον εἶναι” Od.8.221: c. dat. rei, “βίῃ προφερέστερος” 21.134: c. inf., [“ἡμίονοι] βοῶν προφερέστεραί εἰσιν ἑλκέμεναι” Il.10.352: Sup., “προφερεστάτη ἐστὶν ἁπασέων” Hes.Th.79,361 (where it is commonly interpreted eldest); “ἀνὴρ προφερέστατος ἀνδρῶν” IG14.935, cf. Theoc.17.4; ἡνιόχων π. IG14.1628, cf. Epigr.Gr.435 (Trachonitis); also Comp. and Sup., προφέρτερος, προφέρτατος in the sense of older, eldest, S.Fr.447, OC 1531.
II. looking older than one is, well-grown, Pl.Euthd.271b, cf. Aeschin.1.49; of plants and young persons, forced, premature, precocious, τὰ π. Aristox. ap. Stob.4.37.4, cf. Iamb.VP31.209.
