A.anything agreed upon, preconcerted signal, Hdt. 8.7; given by means of a beacon-fire, Th.4.112; συνθήματα εἶναι τὰ ὀνόματα that names are conventional signs, Pl.Cra.433e; τὰ παρὰ φύσιν ς. Id.Grg.492c; so δέλτοι ἐγγεγραμμένην ξυνθήμαθ᾽ having ciphers inscribed upon it, S.Tr.158; dispatches or letters in cipher, Plb.8.15.9; military signal-code, Ph.Bel.90.45, al.; cf. συνθηματικός.
2. password, Hdt.9.98, Th.7.44, etc.; ς. παρέρχεται the word is passed round, X.An.1.8.16, cf. 6.5.25; ς. παραδιδόναι to pass it, ib.7.3.34; “ς. παρφέροντι” E.Ph.1140; παραγγέγγειν, παρεγγυῆσαι, X. An.1.8.16, Cyr.7.1.10; signal for battle, “τοῦ ς. δοθέντος” Plu.Sull.28; “ἐνδιδόναι” Luc.Salt.10.
3. any token or sign, “ξυμφορᾶς ξ. ἐμῆς” S.OC 46; τὰ Θησέως Πειρίθου τε . . ξυνθήματα the tokens or pledges of their compact, ib.1594; = Lat. tessera, Plb.6.34.8; passport, Jul.Ep.13; symbol, Dam.Pr.210,213; τῆς τελετῆς τὸ ς. IG3.173 (iv A.D.).
b. military standard, D.S.1.86.
4. = συνθῆκαι, agreement, covenant, “ς. ποιήσασθαι” X.An.4.6.20; “ς. ἦν . . παίειν” Id.HG5.4.6; ἀπὸ συνθήματος by agreement, Hdt.5.74, Th.4.67, 6.61, etc.; so ἐκ ς. Hdt.6.121; ἀφ᾽ ἑνὸς ς. Plu.Aem.19; ὑφ᾽ ἑνὶ ς. Hdn.2.13.4.