ἄρχω pf. pass. ἦργμαι only in mid. sense in pass. sense:— to be first, of Time, to begin, make a beginning, both in Act. and Mid.: c. gen. to make a beginning of, πολέμοιο, μάχης, etc., Hom.; so Hdt. and Attic:—Mid. also in a religious sense, like ἀπάρχεσθαι, ἀρχόμενος μελέων beginning the sacrifice with the limbs, Od.; ἄρχειν σπονδῶν Thuc. c. gen. also to begin from or with, ἐν σοὶ μὲν λήξω σέο δʼ ἄρξομαι Il.; so, ἄρχεσθαι ἔκ τινος Od.; ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ παιδίων even from boyhood, Hdt. c. gen. rei et dat. pers., ἄρχ. θεοῖς δαιτός to make preparations for a banquet to the gods, Il.; τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Il., etc. c. acc., ἄρχειν ὁδόν τινι, like Lat. praeire viam alicui, to shew him the way, Od.; absol. (sub. ὁδόν), to lead the way, Hom.; then generally ἄρχειν τι Aesch., Soph. c. inf. to begin to do a thing, Hom., etc.; c. part. of continued action or condition, ἦρχον χαλεπαίνων Il.; ἄρχ. διδάσκων Xen. absol., ἄρχε begin! Hom.; ἄρχει ἡ ἐκεχειρία Thuc.; ἅμα ἦρι ἀρχομένωι, θέρους ἀρχομένου Thuc. of Authority, to lead, rule, govern, only in Act.: c. gen. to rule, be leader of . . , τινός Hom., Attic c. dat. to rule over, Hom., Aesch. absol. to rule, govern, Aesch.: esp. to hold a subordinate office, ὁκοῖον εἴη ἄρχειν μετὰ τὸ βασιλεύειν Hdt.:—at Athens, to be archon, Dem.; cf. ἄρχων. Pass. to be ruled, governed, Hdt., Attic; οἱ ἀρχόμενοι subjects, Xen.