Lexical Definition

‎ἀσφαλής‎ asphalḗs (as-fal-ace') secure ^G:A
from ‎Α‎ (as a negative particle) and sphallo (to "fail")

certain(-ty), safe, sure.

• secure (literally or figuratively)

Abbott-Smith

ἀσφαλής, -ές (< ἀ- neg., σφάλλω, to trip up), [in LXX for אשׁר pu., etc.;]
certain, secure, safe: Ac 21:34 22:30 25:26, Phl 3:1, He 6:19 (MM, s.v.).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀσφαλής-ής, ές,

(σφάλλομαι, σφαλῆναι) not liable to fall, immovable, steadfast, in [Refs 8th c.BC+]adjective (compare infr. III), θεῶν ἕδος ἀ. αἰεί[ἀσφαλήςῆ θεῶν νόμιμα 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 454">Refs 8th c.BC+]; unshaken, of purpose, ἀ. ὁ νοῦς[Refs]

__2 of friends and the like, unfailing, trusty, οὐ γὰρ οἱ.. εὐρύνωτοι φῶτες ἀσφαλήςέστατοι[Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, φρονεῖν γὰρ οἱ ταχεῖς οὐκ ἀσφαλήςεῖς the hasty in counsel are not safe, [ἀσφαλήςέσταται 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Iphigenia Taurica” 1062 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; of things, sure, certain, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 assured from danger, safe, ἀ. αἰών[ἀσφαλήςεῖ σὺν ἐξόδῳ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 1288; ἀ. ὄρος 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Respublica Lacedaemoniorum” 12.1; ὁδός -εστέρα [prev. author] “HG” 5.4.51">Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν τῷ ἀσφαλήςεῖ in safety, [ἀσφαλήςεῖ τοῦ μὴ παθεῖν 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 3.3.31; τοῦ λαλεῖν 4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus “Σαμία” 25">Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν -εστέρῳ, -εστάτῳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐξ ἀσφαλήςοῦς from a place of safety, [ἀσφαλήςέος εἵνεκα 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.109">Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ἀ., ={ἀσφάλεια}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μετὰ τοῦ αὑτῆς ἀ. with no risk to herself, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; ἀσφαλήςές [ἐστι], with infinitive, it is safe to.., [ἀσφαλήςές 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Philebus” 61d, etc.; φεύγειν αὐτοῖς ἀσφαλήςέστερόν ἐστιν ἢ ἡμῖν 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Anabasis” 3.2.19. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]
__4 ἀ. ῥήτωρ a convincing speaker, [Refs]
__5 in Lit. Crit., sound, not risky, of language or rhythm, [Refs 4th c.BC+]adverb -ῶς, ἐρεῖ[Refs]
__II substantive ἀσφαλήςές, τό, ={ἀσφάλεια}[Refs 4th c.AD+]
__III Epic dialect adverb ἀσφαλήςέως, ἔχειν, μένειν, to be, remain firm, steady, [ἀσφαλήςές">Refs 8th c.BC+] as adverb, [ἀσφαλήςές 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “P.” 2.20; ἀ. ἀγορεύει ">Refs 8th c.BC+]without faltering, [ἀσφαλήςέως 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 13.141, 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 13.86; ἔμπεδον ἀσφαλήςὲς αἰεί 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 15.683. ">Refs 8th c.BC+]adverb ἀσφαλήςῶς (-έως) is used in all senses of the adjective, -έως βεβηκὼς ποσσί[Refs 7th c.BC+]; in safety, with certainty, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]as a precaution, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]: comparative -έστερον[Refs 5th c.BC+] but -εστέρως [Refs 5th c.BC+]: superlative -έστατα[Refs 5th c.BC+]