A.that which befalls one, lot, destiny:
1. in Hom. always of evil destiny, esp. of death; of the killer, πότμον ἐφῆκε, ἐφήσω, Il.4.396, Od.19.550; or of the killed, “πότμον ἐπισπεῖν” Il.6.412, Od.2.250, al.; “θάνατον καὶ π. ἐπισπεῖν” Il.2.359, 20.337, al.; also “θανέειν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν” 7.52, Od.4.562, al.; “ὀλόμην καὶ πότμον ἐπέσπον” 11.197; “αἴ κε θάνῃς καὶ πότμον ἀναπλήσῃς βιότοιο” Il.4.170, cf. 11.263; also πότμον ἐφάψαι, = π. ἐφεῖναι, Pi.O. 9.60, cf. B.5.158, etc.; πότμον ἀμπιπλάντες ὁμοῖον, of the Dioscuri who lived on alternate days, Pi.N.10.57.
2. after Hom. without a sense of evil, π. συγγενής one's natural gifts, ib.5.40; “εὐτυχεῖ π.” A.Pers.709; “καλλίπαις π.” Id.Ag.762 (lyr.), cf. 1005 (lyr.); π. ξυνήθης πατρός my father's customary fortune, S.Tr.88; “π. ἄποτμος” E.Hipp. 1143 (lyr.); “τίνα ποτ᾽ Ἠλέκτρα πότμον εἴληχε βιότου;” Id.IT913; “θανεῖν ζηλωτὸς ἐν Ἑλλάδι π.” Arist.Fr.Lyr.6.4.
