ψῆφος,
Doric dialect ψᾶφος,
Aeolic dialect ψᾶφαξ, ἡ,
genitive plural ψηφάων [
Refs 4th c.AD+]: (ψάω):—
a small round worn stone, pebble, ψᾶφος ἑλισσομένα [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψήφῳ μούνῃ διατετρανέεις, opposed to μόγις ἂν λίθῳ παίσας διαρρήξειας, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψ. ἄμμου a
grain of sand, [
LXX]
2)
precious stone, gem, [
Refs 2nd c.AD+]; especially worn in a ring, [
Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II)
accusative to the various uses made of such pebbles:
II.1)
pebble used for reckoning, counter, λογίζεσθαι ψήφοις calculate or reckon by
abacus, cipher, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence to reckon
exactly or
accurately, opposed to ἀπὸ χειρὸς λ, [
Refs 5th c.BC+] itself for a
cipher, number, πὸτ ἄρτιον (i.e. ἀριθμὸν) ποτθέμειν. ψᾶφον [
Refs 5th c.BC+]:
plural,
accounts, καθαραὶ ψ, where there is an exact balance, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]
calculators, [
Refs 1st c.AD+]; δακτυλικὴ ψ.
reckoning on the fingers, [
Refs 6th c.AD+]; of astrological
calculations, [
Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.1.b) in Magic, κατέχων τὴν ψ. (i. e. the object on which the
number is written) λέγε. [
Refs]
II.2)
pebble used for a draughts- or
chess-man, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2.b)
pebble used by jugglers, ψηφάων παῖκται [
Refs 4th c.AD+]
II.3)
pebble used in divination, ἡ διὰ ψήφων μαντική [
Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.4)
cube used in mosaic pavements, [
Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.5)
pebble used in voting, ψήφῳ ψηφίζεσθαι [
Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence,
the vote itself, ψῆφον φέρειν give
one's vote, ἐν καρδίᾳ ψ. φέροντες [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψῆφον τίθεσθαι, ={ψηφίζεσθαι}, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; with
infinitive, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψήφῳ διαιρεῖν to determine
by vote, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; ψήφῳ κρίνειν, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
a vote is taken, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἷς ἂν πλείστη γένηται ψ. a majority
of votes, [
Refs 5th c.BC+] to put
the vote or
question, of the president, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; διένεμον (variants διενέμοντο, ἔφερον) τὰς ψ. were casting their
votes, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὑπὸ ψήφου μιᾶς with one
accord, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψ. φανερά open
voting, ψ. φανερὰν διενεγκεῖν [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to ψ. ἀφανής
voting by ballot, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.5.b)
that which is carried by vote, a vote, ψ. καταγνώσεως
a vote of condemnation, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ψῆφος αὐτῷ ἐπῆκτο περὶ φυγῆς
a vote of banishment was moved for against him, [
Refs 5th c.BC+] —hence,
II.5.c)
any resolve or
decree, ψ. τυράννων [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; λιθίνα ψᾶφος
a decree written on stone, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; διδοῖ ψᾶφον περ᾽ αὐτᾶς [the oak] gives
judgement of itself, [
Refs]; ψ. φλεγυρὰ βροτῶν, i. e.
public opinion, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; τίν᾽ ἂν ψῆφον θεῖ; what
judgment? [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.5.d) Ἀθηνᾶς ψ,
calculus Minervae, proverbial phrase to express
acquittal, when the votes were even, [
Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.5.e) ψ. is sometimes omitted, κἂν ἴσαι γένωνται [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.5.f) Διὸς ψῆφος (ψῆφοι [
Refs 5th c.AD+] of the scene of contest betw. Athena and Poseidon, [
Refs]
II.5.g) Κόννου ψ,
negligible quantity, cipher, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.6)
place of voting, tribunal, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.7)
metaphorically,
influence, πόλις μεγάλην ψ. ἔχουσα [
Refs 4th c.AD+]