A.speech, opp. ᾠδή, Pl.Lg.816d; λ. ἢ πρᾶξις speech or action, Id.R.396c; ὁ τρόπος τῆς λ. ib.400d; τὰ λέξει δηλούμενα orders given by word of mouth, Arr.Tact.27.2.
2. diction, style, ἡ ἐνθάδε λ. the style used here (in courts of justice), Pl.Ap.17d; Μούσης λ. poetical diction, Id.Lg.795e, cf. Arist.Rh.1410b28, Po. 1450b13, etc.; περὶ Λέξεως, title of work by Ephorus, Theon Prog. 2.
II. a single word or phrase, Arist.Rh.1406b1, Epicur.Nat.28p.4V., al. (pl.), D.T. 633.31, Plb.2.22.1, etc.; even a meaningless word, such as βλίτυρι, Diog.Stoic.3.213; “ταῖς λ. κέχρηται ταῖς αὐταῖς” Plb.6.46.10; αὐταῖς λέξεσι or κατὰ λέξιν word for word, D.H.Pomp.2, Plu.2.869d, Ath.11.493d, D.L.2.113; later “ἐπὶ λέξεως” PLond.5.1713.14 (vi A.D.), Vit.Arist.p.438 Rose, etc.; collectively, κρατῶ καὶ τῆς λ. the very words, Ath.7.275b, cf. Epicur.Nat.28p.15V., Gal.12.403.
3. Gramm., a word peculiar in form or signification: hence λέξεις is the older term for a glossary, Ῥοδιακαὶ λέξεις a glossary of Rhodian phrases, Ath.11.485e; cf. “γλῶσσα” 11.2.
4. text of an author, opp. exegesis, Asp.in EN122.27, Arr.Epict.3.21.7, Dam.Pr.165, 169.