A.“σπερχθείς” Pi.N.1.40, Hdt.1.32:—poet. Verb (used also in Ion. Prose, cf. περισπέρχω; Att. only in compds. ἐπι-, κατα-σπέρχω), set in rapid motion, only late, c. inf., “τρέχειν” Luc. Trag.236: more freq. in Pass., to haste, be in haste, c. inf., “ὁπότε σπερχοίατ᾽ Ἀχαιοὶ . . φέρειν Ἄρηα” Il. 19.317, cf. A.R.4.211; “ὁπότε ς. ἐρετμοῖς” Od.13.22; ς. μετά, ποτί τι, A.R.1.1255, Orph.L.706; of the sea, rage, Hymn.Is.151: in Hom. mostly part. pres. Pass. σπερχόμενος in haste, hurriedly, “ς. δ᾽ ὁ γεραιὸς ἑοῦ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου” Il.24.322, cf. 23.870, Od.9.101, al.; [“νηῦς] ἐπέκελσεν σπερχομένη” 13.115, cf. E.Alc.257 (lyr.).
2. metaph., to be hasty of temper, “σπερχομένοιο γέροντος” Il.24.248, cf. Hdt.3.72; “σπερχθείς” Id.1.32; σπερχθεῖσα θυμῷ in haste and heat, Pi.N.1.40; μὴ σπέρχου be not hasty, E.Med.1133; “ς. μέγα δή τι καὶ οὐ φατόν” Call.Del.60; σπέρχεσθαί τινι to be angry with one, Hdt.5.33, Call.Del. 158.
II. intr., = Pass., ὅθ᾽ ὑπὸ λιγέων ἀνέμων σπέρχωσιν ἄελλαι are driven rapidly, Il.13.334, cf. h.Hom.33.7; ὁπότε σπέρχοιεν ἄελλαι (v.l. σπερχοίατ᾽) Od.3.283; “ἵππος σπέρχων” Opp.C.1.342; εἰρεσίῃ ς. Id.H.5.295. (Cf. Skt. sprhayati 'desire'.)
