ἀπότομ-ος, ον,
cut off, στροφέων ἀ. μῆκος πήχεων πέντε[[ “IG” 11(2).287 A 49 (Delos, 3rd c.BC)] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; especially sheer, precipitous, ἀ.ἐστι ταύτῃ ἡ ἀκρόπολις[[ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.84, compare 4.62; ἀ. ἐκ θαλάττης 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Critias” 118a; τὰ ἀ. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]precipices, [[ 2nd-3rd c.AD: Philostratus Sophista “Vita Apollonii” 3.4] Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἀπότομον ὤρουσεν εἰς ἀνάγκαν, metaphorically from one who comes suddenly to the edge of a cliff, [[ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 877 (Lyric poetry)] Refs 5th c.BC+]. adverb -μως, ἔχειν[[ 2nd-3rd c.AD: Philostratus Sophista “Vita Apollonii” 2.5. ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__2 metaphorically, severe, relentless, λῆμα[[ 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Alcestis” 981 (Lyric poetry); κρίσις LXX.Wis.6.6. ] LXX+5th c.BC+]adverb -ως[[ [prev. work] 5.22, 2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 18.11.2, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Crassus” 3, etc.] Refs 2nd c.BC+]; brusquely, probable reading in [[ 1st c.BC: Cicero, M. Tullius Orator et Philosophus “Epistulae ad Atticum” 10.11.5. ] Refs 1st c.BC+]
__2.b of persons, severe, [[ 1st c.AD: Philo Judaeus 2.268. ] Refs 1st c.AD+]
__2.c of gladiatorial combats, a fight to a finish, ἑνόζυγον ἀπότομον[[ “IGRom.” 4.1632] Refs]; ἀπότομα alone, μουσεῖον καὶ Βιβλ. 1876/8 No.153; μονομαχιῶν τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἀποτόμους[[ “Inscription Magn.” 163.10, compare “IGRom.” 3.360.9 (from Sagalassus), “CIG” “Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum” “Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum” 2880 (from Branchidae). ] Refs]