I.Act. to prevail upon, win over, persuade, τινά Hom., etc.:—c. acc. pers. et inf. to persuade one to do, Il., etc.; also, π. τινὰ ὥστε δοῦναι, etc., Hdt.; π. τινα ὡς χρή Plat.; π. τινὰ εἴς τι Thuc.; in part., πείσας by persuasion, by fair means, Soph.
II.Special usages:
2.to prevail on by entreaty, Hom.
3.π. τινὰ χρήμασι to bribe, Hdt.; so, π. ἐπὶ μισθῶι or μισθῶι id=Hdt., Thuc.: so, πείθειν τινά alone, Xen., NTest.
B.Pass. and Mid. to be prevailed on, won over, persuaded, absol., Hom., attic; the imperat. πείθου or πιθοῦ listen, comply, Trag.; c. inf. to be persuaded to do, Soph.; also, πείθεσθαι ὥστε . . Thuc.
2.πείθεσθαί τινι to listen to one, obey him, Hom., etc.; νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνηι, of leaving off the labours of the day, Il.; —πάντα πείθεσθαί τινι to obey him in all things, Od., etc.
3.πείθεσθαί τινι, also, to believe or trust in a person or thing, Hom., etc.: —c. acc. et inf. to believe that, Od., etc.: with an adj. neut., π. τὰ περὶ Αἴγυπτον Hdt.; ταῦτ᾽ ἐγώ σοι οὐ πείθομαι I do not take this on your word, Plat.