Lexical Definition

‎πεῖρα‎ peîra (pi'-rah) test ^G:N-F
from the base of ‎πέραν‎ (through the idea of piercing)

assaying, trial.

• a test, i.e. attempt, experience

Abbott-Smith

πεῖρα, -ας, ἡ (< πειράω), [in LXX: De 28:56 (π. λαμβάνειν, נסה pi.) 33:8 (מַסָּה), Wi 18:20, 25, II Mac 8:9, IV Mac 8:1*;]
a trial, experiment; π. λαμβάνειν, to make trial, have experience of: He 11:29, 36 (for exx., v. Field, Notes, 232 f.).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

πεῖρα, ας

(Ionic dialect πεῖρα, accusative πεῖραν, genitive -ης), Aeolic dialect πέρρα [Refs 4th c.AD+]: ἡ:— trial, attempt, π. τοι μαθήσιος ἀρχά [Refs 7th c.BC+]; opposed to δόξα, [πεῖραν τολμήσειν [prev. author] “El.” 471; πείρᾳ σφαλῆναι 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.70 ">Refs 6th c.BC+]; ἢν μὲν ξυμβῇ ἡ π. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; πεῖραν ἔχοντες being proved, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but πεῖραν ἔχειν τινός to have experience of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινῶν ἔχειν ὅτι.. [Refs]; π. ἔχει τῆς γνώμης involves a trial of your resolution, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πεῖράν τινος λαμβάνειν or λαβεῖν to make trial or proof of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also, gain experience of.., ἐν ἑαυτῷ[Refs 5th c.BC+]; πεῖράν τινος διδόναι (cf. Latin specimen sui edere) Darei Epist. in [πεῖραν ποιήσασθαι 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 1.53 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. ποιεῖσθαι εἰ.. [πεῖραν καθεῖναι 2nd-3rd c.AD: Aelianus “Varia Historia” 2.13, compare “NA” 1.39 ">Refs 4th c.BC+]; π. δέξασθαι undertake, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

__2 with Preps., ἀπὸ πείρης by experiment, opposed to αὐτόματον, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι διὰ τῆς π. [πεῖραν ἤλθομεν φίλων 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Heraclidae” 309, etc. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἰέναι ἐς τὴν π. τοῦ ναυτικοῦ try an action by sea, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀκοῆς κρείσσων ἐς π. ἔρχεται turns out on trial greater than report, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; Κύρου ἐν πείρᾳ γενέσθαι to have been acquainted with Cyrus, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ πείρᾳ by way of test or trial, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ π. δούς on trial, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; π. θανάτου πέρι καὶ ζωᾶς a contest for.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II attempt on or against one, πεῖράν τιν᾽ ἐχθρῶν ἁρπάσαι a means of attacking.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially attempt to seduce a woman, [Refs 1st c.AD+]: absolutely, attempt, enterprise, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πεῖραν ἀφορμᾶν to go forth upon an enterprise, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare πειρατής. (Cf. Latin experior, peritus.)