ἀπαρχή, ἡ,
mostly in plural ἀπαρχαί (compare ἄπαργμα):
__1 beginning of a sacrifice, primal offering (of hairs cut from the forehead), ἀπαρχαὶ κόμης[[ 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Orestes” 96, compare “Ph.” 1525 (Lyric poetry)] Refs 5th c.BC+]; later, a banquet held on this occasion, [[ 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.40b. ] Refs 1st c.AD+]
__2 firstlings for sacrifice or offering, first-fruits, ἁπάντων ἀπαρχαί[[ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 4.71; ἀπαρχὰς ἄγειν θεοῖσι 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 183; ἀπαρχὰς θύειν 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Fragmenta” 516; ἀ. σκυλευμάτων “Ph.” 857; ἐπιφέρειν ἀ. τῶν ὡραίων 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.58; τῶν ὄντων 4th c.BC: Isaeus Orator 5.42, compare 4th-3rd c.BC: Epicurus Philosophus “Fragmenta” 130, etc.] Refs 5th c.BC+]:—so also in singular, λείας ἀ.[[ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 761; ἀ. τῶν πατρων χρημάτων 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.92, etc.; ἀνθρώπων ἀ. εἰς Δελφοὺς ἀποστέλλειν 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Fragmenta” 485; ἀ. ἀπό τινος ἀνατιθέναι 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 4.88; inscribed on votive offerings, [ἀνέθηκεν].. τόδ᾽ α. “IG” 1.382, etc.; frequently in LXX, as LXX.Exo.25.2, +others, cf. NT.Rom.11.16, and _metaphorically_, ἀ. τῶν κεκοιμημένων NT.1Cor.15.20; τῶν κτισμάτων NT.Jam.1.18. ] NT+5th c.BC+]
__3 metaphorically, ἀπαρχαὶ τῶν ἐμῶν προσφθεγμάτων[[ 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Ion” 402; ἀπαρχὴν τῆς σοφίας ἀνέθεσαν 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Protagoras” 343b, etc.; ἀ. ἀπὸ φιλοσοφίας 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.172c. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]