πρόφασις πρόφᾰσις, εως, προφαίνω or πρόφημι that which is alleged as the cause, an allegation, plea, καὶ ἐπὶ μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐπὶ βραχείᾳ ὁμοίως προφάσει to great or small plea alike, Thuc.; πρ. ἀληθεστάτη Thuc. mostly in bad sense, a mere pretext, a pretence, excuse, Hdt., etc.; opp. to the true cause (αἰτία) , Thuc.: c. gen. the pretext or pretence for a thing, Hdt., etc.:—absol. in acc., πρόφασιν in pretence, Il., Attic; πρόφασιν μέν, opp. to τὸ δʼ ἀληθές, Thuc.; so in dat., προφάσει Thuc.: — ἀπὸ προφάσιος τοιῆσδε from or on some such pretext as this, Hdt., etc.:— προφάσιος εἵνεκεν Hdt.:— ἐπὶ προφάσει by way of excuse, Theogn., Thuc.; so, ἐπὶ προφάσιος Hdt.; κατὰ πρόφασιν Hdt.:—foll. by an inf., αὕτη ἦν σοι πρ. ἐκβαλεῖν ἐμέ for casting me out, Soph.; πρόφασιν ἔχει τοῖς δειλαίοις μὴ ἰέναι gives them an excuse for not going, Plat. phrases, πρόφασιν διδόναι, ἐνδιδόναι to give occasion, make an excuse, Dem.; πρ. ἐνδοῦναί τινι Thuc.; πρ. προτείνειν, προΐσχεσθαι to put forward an excuse, Hdt.; παρέχειν Ar.; προφάσιας ἕλκειν to keep making pretences, Hdt., etc.; elliptically, μή μοι πρόφασιν (sc. πάρεχε) no excuse, no shuffling, Ar. Pind. personifies Πρόφασις, as daughter of Epimetheus (Afterthought). in Soph. it must mean suggestion.