ἐπέχω fut. ἐφ-έξω aor. ἐπ-έσχον imperat. ἐπίσχες inf. ἐπισχεῖν poet. ἐπ-έσχεθον to have or hold upon, πόδας θρόνῳ Il. to hold out to, present, offer, οἶνον Il., Eur.; so c. inf., πιεῖν ἐπέσχον Ar.:— Mid., ἐπισχόμενος (sc. τὴν κύλικα) having put it to his lips, Plat. to direct towards, τόξα ἐπ. τινί Eur.:—intr. to aim at, attack, τινί Od.; ἐπί τινα Hdt.; ἐπί τινι Thuc.:—aor2 mid. part. ἐπισχόμενος having aimed at him, Od. ἐπέχειν (sc. τὸν νοῦν) , to intend, purpose, c. inf., Hdt. to stand facing, to face in a line of battle, τινάς Hdt. to keep in, hold back, check, Lat. inhibere, Il., Soph., etc. ἐπέχειν τινά τινος to stop him, hinder him from it, Soph., Eur.: so c. inf., ἐπ. τινὰ μὴ πράσσειν τι Soph.:—absol. to stay proceedings, Thuc. absol. also to stay, stop, wait, pause, Od., Hdt.; ἐπίσχες ἔστʼ ἂν προσμάθῃς Aesch.; ἐπ. ἕως . . Dem. c. gen. rei, to stop or cease from, ἐπίσχες τοῦ δρόμου Ar.; τῆς πορείας Xen.:—so c. inf. to leave off doing, Xen. to reach or extend over a space, ἑπτὰ δʼ ἐπέσχε πέλεθρα Il.; ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πῦρ so far as the fire reached, Il.; aor2 mid., ἐπέσχετο he lay outstretched, Hes. to occupy a country, τὴν Ἀσίην Hdt., etc.:—of things, ἡ ὀπώρη ἐπέσχεν αὐτούς occupied or engaged them, Hdt. absol. to prevail, predominate, of a wind, Hdt.; of an earthquake, Thuc.