פִּיס (cmp. פָּסַס) to split, divide, distribute.
Hif. - הֵפִיס 1) to penetrate, (cmp. בָּדַק); to cause abdominal trouble. Pes. 107ᵃ מִיסְרָן ומֵפִיס this drink is a tempter and then gives pain (Ms. M. ומֵיפֵיס; Ms. O. מייסרן ומיפיס, v. פָּסַס; ed. ומפייס, v. infra).—[מפיס מורסא, v. פָּסַס.] —2) to break a person’s anger or will, to pacify, persuade, comfort. Shebu. 45ᵃ כדי להָפִיס דעתו וכ׳ in order to satisfy the mind of the employer (to convince him that he was mistaken). Y. ib. VIII, 38ᵈ top; Y. Snh. III, 21ᶜ bot. מצוה להֲפִיסוֹ it is proper to give him (the owner of the lost animal) satisfaction (by stating the cause of the loss); v. Pi.—Ab. Zar. 71ᵃ צא והָפֵס עלי מנת המלך go and satisfy for me the royal taxes (settle for me as best you can), v. מְנָת. —3) to arbitrate, decide (cmp. פָּסַק). Sabb. 33ᵃ מי מֵפִיס who will decide (as to the cause of my disease)? Ib. 54ᵃ מי מפיס וכ׳ who will decide which udders are tied up for the purpose of drying them up and which for the purpose of preserving the milk?—Esp. to decide by chance, by drawing lots, counting a certain number &c. (v. פַּיִיס). Tam. I, 2 מי שטבל יבוא ויָפִיס let those who have bathed, come and take part in the count of chance; הֵפִיסוּ זכה וכ׳ after they have drawn, he who has won, has won (no appeal is permitted). Yoma 24ᵇ למה מְפִיסִין וחוזרין וכ׳ why did they draw once and again (why not at once for all the functions to be distributed)? Ib. במה מפיסין (Rashi: מפייסין) what garments do they wear when drawing? Gen. R. s. 84 (play on פסים, Gen. XXXVII, 23) שהפיסו עליה וכ׳ they drew lots about it (the coat) as to who should carry it to his father &c. Sabb. XXIII, 2 (148ᵇ) מפיס (אדם) עם וכ׳ a man may decide by lot (on the Sabbath) the shares of honor at the table &c.; ib. 149ᵇ; a. e.