ἀστεῖος, α, ον,
also ος, ον [[ 4th-3rd c.BC: Diphilus Comicus 73] Refs 4th c.BC+]: (ἄστυ):— of the town (but in the literal sense ἀστικός is used).
__II town-bred, polite, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedo” 116d] Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to ἄγροικος, [[ 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Marius” 3; γένοιτ᾽ ἀστεῖος οἰκῶν ἐν πόλει 7th-6th c.BC: Alcaeus Lyricus Comedy texts 26] Refs 7th c.BC+]; charming, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Isocrates Orator 2.34. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 of thoughts and words, refined, elegant, witty, διάλεκτον ἀστείαν ὑποθηλυτέραν, opposed to ἀνελεύθερον ὑπαγροικοτέραν, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Fragmenta” 685; ἀστεῖόν τι λέξαι [prev. author] “Ra.” 901] Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀστεῖον λέγεις (where there is a play on the double sense, witty and popular) [[ [prev. author] “Nu.” 204; ἀ. καὶ δημωφελεῖς οἱ λόγοι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Phaedrus” 227d; ἀστεῖον εἰπεῖν “Comedy texts Anon.” 248 Mein., compare 4th-3rd c.BC: Axiopistus Poeta Ethicus 1.14; ἀστειοτάτας ἐπινοίας 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Equites” 539 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; of persons, οἱ ἀ. the wits,[[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 452d] Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ ἀ. witty sayings, witticisms, [[ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Rhetorica” 1411b21, +others] Refs 4th c.BC+] adverb -ως[[ 1st c.AD: Josephus Historicus “Antiquitates Judaicae” 12.4.4, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.123f, 2nd c.AD: Lucianus Sophista “Nigr.” 13. ] Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.3 as a general word of praise, of things and persons, pretty, charming, βοσκήματε[[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Acharnenses” 811; ἑορτή 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Gorgias” 447a; ἀ. καὶ εὐήθης [prev. author] “R.” 349b, compare “Phdr.” 242e, 5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “ἐπιστολαί” 13; ἐστὶ γοῦν ἁπλῆ τι;—ἀστεία μὲν οὖν 4th c.BC: Anaxilas Comicus 21] Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀστεῖόν [ἐστι] ὅτι ἐρυθριᾷς it is charming to see you blush, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Lysis” 204c] Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀστεῖον πάνυ εἰ.. [[ 4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus “Σαμία” 149. ] Refs 4th c.BC+]