A.choosing one thing before another, Pl. Prm. 143c; purpose, resolution, “π. καὶ πρᾶξις” Id.Def.413a, cf. Arist.EN1094a2; opp. ἀνάγκη, Isoc. 1.10; “ἐκ π. καὶ βουλήσεως” D.44.57, cf. Arist. PA 657b1; “ἡ κατὰ π. κίνησις” Id.Metaph.1015a33; τὰ κατὰ π. ἀδικήματα wrongs done from malice prepense, Lycurg.148; ζῆν κατὰ π., as a test of freedom. Arist.Pol.1280a34; παρὰ τὴν π. contrary to one's purpose, Id.Metaph.1015a27; as characteristic of moral action, “ἡ π. βουλευτικὴ ὄρεξις τῶν ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν” Id.EN1113a10, cf. 1139a23; inclination, “χρῶ ὡς βούλει τῇ σεαυτοῦ π.” Epicur.Sent.V at.51; motive, “κατὰ προαίρεσιν δακρύειν” Hp.Aph.4.52.
2. purpose, plan, or scope of action, “τῇ π. τοῦ βίου” D.23.141, 48.56; “οὐδενὸς εὐδοκιμεῖ πράγματος ἡ π.” Id.Prooem. 50; “ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ πλεονεκτεῖν π. ζῆν” Id.23.127; ἀναίδεια καὶ π. πονηρίας deliberate wickedness, Id.Ep.3.18; “τῶν καλῶν ἔργων” Zaleuc. ap. Stob. 4.2.19: abs., course of life, principle of action, “ἐν π. χρηστῇ καὶ βίῳ σώφρονι ζῆν” D.Ep.l.c.; “διὰ τὰς τέτταρας δραχμὰς ἀποβάλω τὴν π.;” Strato Com.1.33: pl., principles, Isoc.1.9; “αἱ κοιναὶ π.” D.18.210, etc.
3. in political language, deliberate course of action, policy, ἡ π. ἡ ἐμὴ καὶ ἡ πολιτεία ib.93; ἡ π. τῆς πολιτείας ib.192, cf. 19.27, Plb.3.8.5, 18.37.1, OGI1763.50 (Milet., ii B.C.); mode of government, such as an oligarchy, D.13.8; ἡ π. τῆς πόλεως, opp. ἡ τύχη, Id.18.306; ἡ π. τῶν κοινῶν ib.292: pl., τὰς κοινὰς π. your public principles, policy, ib.210, cf. 206; “ταῖς τοῦ δήμου π.” Id.Ep.3.2.
4. department of public life, πολλῶν προαιρέσεων οὐσῶν τῆς πολιτείας, “τὴν περὶ τὰς Ἑλληνικὰς πράξεις εἱλόμην” Id.18.59.
b. sect or school of music, philosophy, etc., Plu.2.1137b, Gal.18(2).658; “αἱ ἐν φιλοσοφίᾳ π.” Luc.Demon.4, etc.
7. character, reputation, ἠστόχει τῆς σφετέρας π. had no regard for his own reputation, Id.7.14.3; “ἀείμνηστον καὶ καλὴν ἔχει τὴν π.” Id.9.9.10; “καταξίως . . τῆς τῶν ἀλειφομένων π.” Arch.Pap.3.134 (Thera, iii/ii B.C.).
8. devotion, affection, goodwill, “τᾷ π. ἃν ἔχων τυγχάνει ἐς τὰν ἁμὰν πόλιν” SIG721.30 (Crete, ii/i B.C.), cf. 593.4 (Perrhaebia, ii B.C.); ἀποδεξάμενον μετ᾽ εὐνοίας τὴν τοῦ δήμου π. the homage of the people, ib.700.43 (Macedonia, ii B.C.); ἐπαινέσαι ἐπὶ τᾷ περὶ . . τὰν τέχναν π. her devotion to her art, ib.738.11 (Delph., i B.C.), cf. 737.12(i B.C.); = σπουδή, zeal, τὴν π. ἣν ὁ δῆμος . . διατελεῖ ποιούμενος τῶν . . ἐνδόξων ib.590.33 (Cos, ii B.C.).
9. expressed opinion, advice, “τὴν π. ἀποδεξάμενοι τοῦ λέγοντος” Plb.39.3.9, cf. 2.42.4, 7.13.4, 7.14.1.