ἱκέτ-ης, ου, ὁ,
(ἱκνέομαι) one who comes to seek aid or protection, suppliant; frequently in [[ 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus ] Refs 8th c.BC+] of one who comes to seek for purification after homicide, ἀνὴρ ἱ. [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 24.158, compare 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 9.270, +others: later generally, ἱκέται ἱζόμενοι τοῦ θεοῦ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.113, compare 5.71; ἱ. σέθεν ἔρχομαι 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 5.19, compare 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 634, 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.136; ἱ. πατρῴων τάφων [prev. author] 3.59; δέξασθαι ἱκέτην 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Supplices” 27 (_anapaest meter_)] Refs 8th c.BC+]; of pilgrims to a healing shrine, ἐγκεκοιμις μένων τῶν ἱκετᾶν [[ “IG” 4.951.90 (Epid.); ὑβρίζειν.. εἰς ἱκέτας 1st c.BC: Philodemus Gadarensis Epigrammaticus “Ir.” p.35 ] Refs 1st c.BC+] W.:—wrongly explained as protector of suppliants by some Grammars in [[ 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 16.422. ] Refs 8th c.BC+]