ἀφορμή
1. "a starting-point", esp. in war, "a base of operations", Thuc.:—also "a place of safety", Eur.
2. generally, "a starting-point, the origin, occasion or pretext of" a thing, id=Eur.; ἀφορμὴν παρέχειν, διδόναι to give "occasion", Dem.
3. "the means with which one begins" a thing, "resources", Xen., Dem.; ἀφ. ἔργων "means for undertaking" works, Xen.
4. "the capital" of a banker, id=Xen., Dem.