Lexical Definition

‎σπάω‎ spáō (spah'-o) to draw ^G:V
a primary verb

draw (out).

• to draw

Abbott-Smith

σπάω [in LXX chiefly for שׁלף, ;]
in cl. poët. for ἕλκω; mostly used in mid. (cf. M, Pr., 157),
to draw: μάχαιραν, Mk 14:47, Ac 16:27,†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

σπάω,

[Refs 5th c.BC+]future σπάσω [ᾰ] [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἔσπᾰσα [Refs 8th c.BC+], Epic dialect σπάσα [Refs], etc.: perfect ἔσπᾰκα [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, future σπάσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐσπᾰσάμην [Refs 8th c.BC+], Epic dialect σπασάμην [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, future σπασθήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐσπάσθην [Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect ἔσπασμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also in middle sense, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—draw, hence,

__I of a sword, draw, mostly in middle, φάσγανά τε σπάσσασθε [Refs 8th c.BC+]: in active, ξίφος σπάσαντα [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, ἐσπασμένοι τὰ ξίφη having their swords drawn, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__I.2 of other things, ἐκ χειρὸς χεῖρα σπάσατο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὡς ἕκαστος ἔσπασεν τύχης πάλον drew the lot (out of the helmet), [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, σπασθέντος (i.e. ἔγχεος ἔξω χροός) [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__I.3 absolutely, σπᾶτ᾽ ἀνδρείως pull, hoist away, like men, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II of violent actions, pluck off or out, κόμην [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare σπαστέος.
__II.2 tear, rend, especially of ravenous animals, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λαιμοτόμους κεφαλάς uncertain reading in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. τοῖς ὄνυξιν [τοὺς νεοττούς], of the eagle, [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, φλέβιον, σάρκα σπασθῆναι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 wrench, sprain, τὸ σκέλος ἔσπασε [Refs 1st c.AD+]:—passive, τὸν μηρὸν σπασθῆναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 snatch, tear or drag away, πῶλον παρὰ συννόμων [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, ἔλαφον ἀπ᾽ ἐμῶν γονάτων σπασθεῖσαν [Refs]
__II.5 metaphorically, carry away, draw aside, ἀλλά σ᾽ ἔσπασεν πειθώ [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.6 in Medicine texts, cause convulsion or spasm, variant in [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be convulsed, σπασθεὶς ἀποθνῄσκει [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐσπᾶτο γὰρ πέδονδε καὶ μετάρσιος, of Heracles in his agony, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: metaphorically, to be harassed, anxious, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__III draw in, suck in, θρόμβον αἵματος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; συνεκθανεῖν σπῶντα χρὴ τῷ πώματι[Refs 2nd c.AD+]; opposed to λάπτω, κάπτω, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; σ. τὸν μαστόν suck it, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; and in middle, ταυρείου σπασάμενος αἵματος [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, of the female, to be sucked, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III.2 σ. τὸ πνεῦμα draw breath, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; absorb, ἕκαστον τῶν τοῦ σώματος τὸ αὑτῷ οἰκεῖον ἐσπακέναι [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III.3 metaphorically, derive, τροφήν, of winds, [Refs 5th c.BC+]drew, derived.., [Refs]; σ. ἔρωτα enjoy it, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ὀλίγον ὕπνου σ. snatch a little sleep, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]:—middle, [Refs]
__IV draw tight, pull the reins, χαλινῷ τὸ στόμα τοῦ ἵππου [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__IV.2 of angling, ἡ μήρινθος οὐδὲν ἔσπασεν [Refs 5th c.BC+] 'he took nothing by his motion', [Refs]
__V derive, ἐπωνυμίαν παρά τινων [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἀρχὴν λυρικῆς καὶ πέρας σ. [Refs]; ῥίζαν σ. τινός derive one's origin from.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]