κάμπτω
Etym. lengthd. from Root ΚΑΜΠ, v. καμπή
I. "to bend, curve", ὄφρα ἰτὺν κάμψηι "that he may bend" it into a chariot-rail, Il.; γόνυ κ. "to bend" the knee so as to sit down and rest, id=Il.; οὐ κάμπτων γόνυ, i. e. never resting, Aesch.; so, κ. κῶλα Soph.; then, κάμπτειν alone, "to sit down, rest", id=Soph.;—also, γόνυ κ. "to bend" the knee in worship, NTest.
II. "to turn or guide" a horse or chariot "round" the turning-post (καμπή II); hence, of the horse or chariot, κάμψαι διαύλου θάτερον κῶλον πάλιν "to double" the post (καμπτήρ) and return along the second half of the δίαυλος, Aesch.; κάμπτοντος ἵππου as the horse "was turning", Soph.:—metaph., κ. βίον "to" make the "last turn in the course" of life, id=Soph.; κ. βίου τέλος Eur.
2. so also of seamen, "to double" a headland, ἄκρην κ. Hdt.; also, κ. περὶ ἄκραν Ar.; κ. κόλπον "to wind round" the bay, Hdt.
3. absol., πάλιν κ. "to turn" back, Eur.; ἐγγὺς τῶν ἐμῶν κάμπτεις φρενῶν thou "comest" near my meaning, id=Eur.
III. metaph., like Lat. flectere, κάμπτειν τινά "to bend or bow" one "down", Pind.:—Pass. "to be bowed down", Aesch., Thuc.; κάμπτομαι "I submit", Plat.