b. walk backwards, of oxen feeding, Hdt.4.183.
2. in Il., mostly, retire, withdraw from battle, “ἀλλά σ᾽ ἔγωγ᾽ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι” Il.17.30; “τόφρ᾽ ἀναχωρείτω” 11.189, cf. 4.305, 20.335, etc.: in Prose, “μάχης οὔσης εἰς τοὐπίσω ἀ.” Lys.14.6; “φυγῇ ἀ.” Pl.Smp.221a; generally, retire, withdraw, “μεγάροιο μυχόνδε” Od.22.270; “ὀπίσω ἀ.” Hdt.5.94, etc.; “ἐς τοὔπισθεν” Ar.Pl.1208; ἀνεκεχωρήκεσαν they had retired or returned, Th.8.15, cf. IG9(1).334 (Locr.): with Preps. denoting motion to or from, “ἐς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν” Hdt.3.143; “ἐπ᾽ οἴκου” Th.1.30; ὑπὸ Βοιωτῶν ἐς Ἀθήνας were forced by them to retire to . ., Hdt.5.61; “ἀπό” Pl.Smp. l.c.
II. come back or revert to the rightful heir, “ἡ βασιληΐη ἀνεχώρησε ἐς τὸν παῖδα” Hdt.7.4; “ἡ ποινὴ ἀ. εἰς ἡμᾶς” Antipho 2.1.3, cf. Leg.Gort.11.10.
III. metaph., withdraw, retire, “ἐξ αἰσθήσεων” Pl.Phd.83a; ἀ. ἐκ τῶν πραγμάτων retire from public life, from the world, Plb.29.25.5, cf. Cic.Att.9.4.2, Ev.Matt.2.14,al.: abs., withdraw, retire, Pl.Smp. 175a, cf. Ar.Nu.524; ἀνακεχωρηκυῖα χώρα inland spot, Thphr.HP9.7.4; “ἀ. ἀπὸ θαλάσσης” Plb.2.11.16; “ἀνακεχωρηκός ῥῆμα, ὄνομα” obsolete, D.H.Rh.10.7; recondite, “ἱστορία” Phld.Rh.1.157S.
