ἐπικουφ-ίζω,
lighten a ship by throwing out part of its cargo, [[ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 8.118 (_passive_): _metaphorically_, ἐ. ἡ τιμὴ τοὺς πόνους τῷ ἄρχοντι] Refs 5th c.BC+] lightens his labours, [[ X. “Cyr.” 1.6.25; τὰς συμφοράς 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 23.70; λειτουργίας “IG” 14.1078a; τὴν ταλαιπωρίαν 4th c.AD: Julianus Imperator ] Refs 4th c.BC+]adThem.253b: c.genitive of things, relieve of a burden, μόχθου 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Electra” 72; τοῦ δέους 2nd-3rd c.AD: Dio Cassius Historicus 43.18:—middle, ταῖς διὰ τὴν ἀρετὴν ἡδοναῖς τὸν πόνον -ίζομαι Vetus Testamentum Graece redditum “4 Maccabees” 9.31.
__II. lift up, support, πατρὸς πλευρὰς σὺν ἐμοὶ τάσδ᾽ ἐπικούφιζ᾽ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 1411 (anapaest meter); ἐ. τὴν γῆν lift up the soil,[[ X. “Oec.” 17.13. ] Refs]
__II.2. metaphorically, lift up, encourage, ἐλπίσι [[[prev. author] “Cyr.” 7.1.18. ] Refs]
__II.2.b. ἐ. νόον ἀνδρός puff up, in bad sense, [[ Thgn. 629. ] Refs]