πρεσβεύω
Etym. πρέσβυς
I. properly of age,
1. intr. "to be the elder or eldest", Soph.; τῶν προτέρων ἐπρέσβευε he was "the eldest of" the former children, Hdt.; πρ. ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ "to be" his "eldest" son, Thuc.
b. "to take the first place, be best", Soph.:—c. gen. "to rank before, take precedence of" others, πρ. τῶν πολλῶν Plat.; "to rule over", Ὀλύμπου πρ. Soph.
2. trans. "to place as eldest or first, to put first in rank, to pay honour or worship to", Aesch., Soph.:—Pass. "to be put in the first rank, hold the first place", Lat. antiquior sum, Aesch.; c. gen., πρεσβεύεται κακῶν "is most notable" of mischiefs, id=Aesch.
II. "to be an ambassador or go as one, serve or negociate as one", Hdt., Eur., etc.; v. πρεσβεία fin.
2. c. acc. objecti, πρ. τὴν εἰρήνην "to negotiate" peace, Dem.; so, πρ. ὑπὲρ τουτωνί id=Dem.
3. Mid. "to send ambassadors", Thuc.:—also "to go as ambassador", id=Thuc.
4. Pass., τὰ ἑαυτῶι πεπρεσβευμένα "his negotiations", Dem.