Lexical Definition

‎πρόφασις‎ próphasis (prof'-as-is) pretense ^G:N-F
from a compound of ‎πρό‎ and ‎φαίνω‎

cloke, colour, pretence, show.

• an outward showing, i.e. pretext

Abbott-Smith

πρό-φασις, -εως, ἡ (< φήμι), [in LXX: Ps 140 (141):4* (עֲלִילָה), Da TH 6:4*, 5* (5*, 6*) (עִלָּה), Pr 18:1, Ho 10:4*;]
a pretence, pretext: Mt 23:1 (WM, R, txt., om.), Mk 12:40, Lk 20:47, Jo 15:22, Ac 27:30, Phl 1:18, I Th 2:5.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

πρόφασις-ις, εως, ἡ,

(προφαίνω) motive or cause alleged, whether truly or falsely: then, actual motive or cause, whether alleged or not:

__I alleged motive, plea, without implication of truth or falsity, ἐπὶ σμικρῇ π. [Refs 6th c.BC+]; καὶ ἐπὶ μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐπὶ βραχείᾳ π. whether the plea put forward be a trifle or a weighty matter, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τῆς αἰτίας τὴν π. the plea in the case, the basis of the charge, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοιαύτας ἔχοντες π. καὶ αἰτίας pleas and motives, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. ἐπιεικής[Refs 4th c.BC+]; προφάσεις ἀληθεῖς λέγοντος pleading what was in fact true, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.2 falsely alleged motive (or cause), pretext, pretence, excuse, π. ἰδίης ἀβουλίης an excuse for.., [Refs 5th c.BC+] in pretence, ostensibly, στενάχοντο γυναῖκες Πάτροκλον π., σφῶν δ᾽ αὐτῶν κήδε᾽ ἑκάστη [Refs 8th c.BC+]; opposed to τὸ ἀληθές, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; προφάσει τῶν δημοσίων on the pretence that public debts are owing, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; προφάσιος [εἵνεκεν], προφάσεως ἕνεκα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐκ μικρᾶς π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, αὕτη γὰρ ἦν σοι π. ἐκβαλεῖν ἐμέ for casting me out, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τοῖς δειλοῖς ἔχει μὴ ἰέναι gives them an excuse or plea for not going, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εὑρὼν π. [Refs 4th c.AD+]
__I.2.b phrases, πρόφασιν διδόναι, ἐνδοῦναι, allow, afford an excuse, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. μηδεμίαν θέμενος making no excuse, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; π. προτεῖναι put forward a pretext, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; προφάσιας εἷλκον kept making pretences, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινὰ πρεσβείας πορισάμενοι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔχει προφάσεις it is excusable,[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.2.c elliptically, μή μοι πρόφασιν no excuse, no shuffling, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II the actual motive, purpose, or cause, whether alleged or not, οὔτ᾽ εὐνῆς πρόφασιν κεχρημένος οὔτε τευ ἄλλου [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὸ ἐκ προφάσεως τῶν.. στρατιωτῶν δηληγατευθὲν μέτρον ἐλαίου for the purpose of.., [Refs 4th c.AD+]; τὴν ἀληθεστάτην π., ἀφανεστάτην δὲ λόγῳ [Refs 5th c.BC+]: especially as a medical technical term, external exciting cause, ἐκ πάσης π. ἐκτιτρώσκουσι they miscarry on any provocation, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, cause, σμικρὰ π. ἔξωθεν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; βραχεῖα π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φανερὴ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; βραχείας προφάσεως ἔδει μόνον ἐφ᾽ ᾗ.. δεξόμεθα.. it needed but a little to move us to.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 occasion, θοἰμάτιον δεικνὺς τοδὶ πρόφασιν ἔφασκον, ὦ γύναι, λίαν σπαθᾷς I said à propos,.. I took occasion to say.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ τῇ ἐμῇ π. à propos of me, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ τῇ π. τῆς ἐμαυτοῦ ἀρχῆς on the occasion of my accession, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__III persuasion, suggestion, uncertain reading in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__IV preface, τὰς σημειώσεις ὑπὸ μίαν ἐκθησόμεθα π. [Refs 1st c.AD+]