ὀφθαλμός
Alt. ὀφθαλμός, οῦ, ὁ,
Etym. from ΟΠ, Root of ὄψομαι, ὀφθῆναι
I. "the eye", mostly in pl., Hom., etc.; ἐλθεῖν ἐς ὀφθαλμούς τινος to come before one's "eyes", Il.; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν "before" one's eyes, Lat. in oculis, Hom., attic; πρὸ τῶν ὀφθ. Aeschin.; ἐξ ὀφθαλμῶν out of one's "sight", Hdt.; κατ᾽ ὀφθαλμούς "to one's face", Ar.
II. in sg. "the eye" of a master or ruler, πάντα ἰδὼν Διὸς ὀφθ. Hes.; so a king is called ὀφθ. οἴκων Aesch.; and in Persia ὀφθαλμὸς βασιλέως, "the king's eye", was a confidential officer, through whom he beheld his subjects, Hdt., Ar., etc.
III. ἑσπέρας ὀφθ., νυκτὸς ὀφθ., of the moon, Pind.
IV. "the dearest, best", as the eye is the most precious part of the body, ὀφθαλμὸς Σικελίας id=Pind.; μέγας ὀφθαλμός a great "comfort", Soph.
V. "the eye or bud" of a plant or tree, Xen.