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I. trans., cause to stumble or fall, σύνθεσιν ποτὶ ψεύδει Pi.Fr.205, cf.LXX 1 Ki.4.3:—
Pass., to be missed, of things, Ael. NA2.15; τὰ πταισθέντα failures, errors, Luc.Demon.7; ἃ ἐπταίσθη his failures, Plu.Comp.Dion.Brut.3.

II. intr., stumble, trip, fall, π. πρός τινι stumble against, fall over, π., ὥσπερ πρὸς ἕρματι, πρὸς τῇ πόλει Pl.R.553b, cf. A.Pr.926, Theoc.7.26; πρὸς τὰς πέτρας cj. in X. An.4.2.3; prov., μὴ δὶς πρὸς τὸν αὐτὸν λίθον πταίειν Plb.31.11.5; also π. περί τινι, μὴ περὶ Μαρδονίῳ πταίσῃ ἡ Ἑλλάς lest Hellas should get a fall over him, i.e. be defeated by him, Hdt.9.101.

2. metaph., make a false step or mistake, Th.2.43, D.2.20, Men.672, etc.; ἐὰν πταίωσί τι when they make a blunder, of medical men, Philem.75.5; οὐκ ἐλάττω, ἐλάχιστα, τὰ πλείω π., Th.1.122, 4.18, 6.33; ἔν τισι D. 18.286; λογισμοῖς Men.380; τῇ μάχῃ, τοῖς ὅλοις, τοῖς πράγμασι, etc., Plb.18.14.13, 3.48.4, 1.10.1, etc.; ἀψευδὴς ὢν καὶ μὴ π. τῇ διανοίᾳ περὶ τὰ ὄντα Pl.Tht.160d; also π. ὑπ' ἀνάγκας S.Ph.215 (lyr.); ὑπό τινος π. τῇ πατρίδι Plb.5.93.2; ἐκ τύχης Id.2.7.3.

3. π. τῆς ἐλπίδος to be baulked of .., Hdn.8.5.1.

4. ἡ γλῶττα π. stutters, Arist.Pr.875b19.