A.snow, sts. person., ὅτε ὤρετο Ζεὺς νειφέμεν (Ep. inf.) Il.12.280; “ὅταν νείφῃ ὁ θεός” X.Cyn.8.1; “ἔνειφεν ὁ Ζεύς” Babr.45; imper. νεῖφε (sc. Ζεῦ) AP 5.63 (Asclep.); “ὁπόταν σχολάζῃς, νεῖψον” Pherecr.20: metaph., χρυσῷ νείφων falling in a shower of gold, Pi.I.7(6).5.
2. impers., “νείφει” it snows, Ar.Ach.1141, cf. V.773; νειφέτω ἀλφίτοις let it snow with barley-meal, Nicopho 13.
3. Med. = Act., νιφάδος νειφομένας when the snow is falling, A.Th.213 (lyr.); also “ὑρίχους νειφομένους σύκων ὁμοῦ τε μύρτων” Ar.Fr.569.5.
4. Pass., to be snowed on, Hdt.4.31, Ar.Ach.1075, X.HG2.4.3, Plb.16.12.3; “χιόνι πολλῇ νείφεται” D.S.5.25: metaph., “πολιῷ γήραϊ νειφόμενος” AP6.198 (Antip. Thess.); “Παναθηναίοισιν ἐλαίουνειφόμενον δώροις” Inscr.Cos58.10.
III. trans., “θεὸς ν. τροφὰς ἀπ᾽ οὐρανοῦ” Id.1.617:—Pass., τὸ νειφόμενον, i.e. manna, Id.2.114. [νίφω, ἔνιψα, etc. (“μακρὰ ἡ πρώτη συλλαβή” Phot.) freq. in codd., but the true early spelling is νείφω, ἔνειψα, etc., Inscr.Cosl.c., Hdn.Gr.2.430, 554, sts. in codd., as Nicophol. c.; νιφ- is correct in derivs., which have short ι.] (I.-E. sneig[uglide]h- and sn[icaron]g[uglide]h-, cf. Lat. nix, nivis, ninguit, Lith. sni[etilde]ga 'it snows', Goth. snaiws 'snow', etc.)