κομάω
Alt. κομάω,
Etym. κόμη
I. "to let the hair grow long, wear long hair", Il.; κομέειν τὴν κεφαλήν Hdt. In early times the Greeks wore their hair long, whence κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί in Hom. At Sparta the fashion continued. At Athens it was so worn by youths up to the 18th year, when they offered their long locks to some deity; and to wear long hair was considered as a sign of aristocratic habits: hence
2. κομᾶν meant "to plume oneself, give oneself airs, be proud or haughty", like Lat. cristam tollere, Ar.; οὗτος ἐκόμησε ἐπὶ τυραννίδι "he aimed at" the monarchy, Hdt.; ἐπὶ τῷ κομᾷς; on what "do you plume yourself?" Ar.
II. of horses, χρυσέῃσιν ἐθείρῃσιν κομόωντε "decked" with golden manes, Il.
III. metaph. of trees, plants, foliage, Hhymn., etc.