Quick Definition
ἀναπίπτω v. I lie down, recline, fall back upon
Strong's Definition
from 303 and 4098; to fall back, i.e. lie down, lean back
KJV Usage: lean, sit down (to meat)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | aor. ἀνέπεσον | πίπτω
17.23 · Stances and Events Related to Stances · Recline [to eat]
to recline, to eat, to be at table, to eat, to dine, to sit down to eat to be in a reclining position as one eats (with the focus either upon the position or the act of eating)
MAT 15:35 · MRK 6:40 · MRK 8:6 · LUK 11:37 · LUK 14:10 · LUK 17:7 · LUK 22:14 · JHN 6:10 · JHN 6:10 · JHN 13:12 · JHN 21:20
17.25 · Stances and Events Related to Stances · Recline [to eat]
Collocation: ἀναπίπτω ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος
to dine in the place of honor (an idiom, literally: to recline on the bosom) to take the place of honor at a meal These expressions in JHN 13:23 and JHN 13:25 would mean that the so-called beloved disciple would be at the right of Jesus, since guests at a meal would be reclining on the left side so as to permit freedom of the right hand in dining. It may, of course, be that the same expression could be used of persons sitting at a table rather than reclining on couches.
Literal translations of ἀνάκειμαι ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ and ἀναπίπτω ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος can result in serious misunderstanding, since they might imply overt homosexuality. There is no justification for reading into such idioms this type of implication.
This expression (ἀναπεσὼν ... ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος) in JHN 13:25 (following on ἀνακείμενος ... ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ in JHN 13:23) seems to be typical of the tendency of the Gospel of John to employ relatively close synonyms with essentially the same meaning. It is possible, however, in view of the aorist participle in JHN 13:25 that the phrase ἀναπεσὼν ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος could also be understood in a more literal sense to mean ‘to move closer to the side (of Jesus).’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀνα-πίπτω: 2 aor. ἀνέπεσον, 3 pers. plur. ἀνέπεσον Mk. vi. 40 (Τ Tr WH ἀνέπεσαν) : Jn. vi. 10 (LT Tr WH averecav), inf. ἀναπεσεῖν, impv. ἀνάπεσε Lk. xiv. 10 (Ree. ἀνάπεσον fr. 1 aor. ἀνέπεσα, [(Grsb. ἀνάπεσαι i. e. 1 aor. mid. impv.)]); Lk. xvii. 7 [RG ἀνάπεσαι, cf. WH. App. Ρ. 164; Ταῦ, Proleg. p. 123; see πίπτω]. ptep. ἀναπεσών ; cf. W. § 13, 1 p. 73 (71); [B. 39 (34) sq., 67 (59); fr. Eur. down]; to lie back, lie down: absol., Mk. vi. 40; Jn. vi. 10, (se. on the ground) ; ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, Mt. xv. 35; ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Mk. viii. 6. In later Grk. (cf. Lob. ad Phryn. p- 216; [W. 23 (22)]) for ἀνακλίνομαι to recline at table: Lk. xi. 37; xiv. 10; xvii. 7; xxii. 14; Jn. xiii. 12; xxi. 20 [al. refer this to the following signif.]. to lean back, Jn. xiii. 25 L Tr WH. [It denotes an act rather than a state, and in the last pass. differs from ἀνάκειμαι, vs. 23, by indicating a change of position. ]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀναπίπτω anapiptō 12x
to fall or recline backwards; to recline at table, etc., Lk. 11:37; to throw one’s self back, Jn. 21:20
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀνα-πίπτω,
[in LXX: Ge 49:9 (כּרע) To 2:1 7:8, Jth 12:10, Si 25:18 35 (32):2, Da TH Sus 37*;]
(cl.) to fall back.
In late writers = ἀνα-κλίνομαι, to recline for a repast (MM, VGT, s.v.): at table, Lk 11:37 14:10 17:7 22:14, Jo 13:12 21:20; on the ground, Mt 15:35, Mk 6:40 8:6, Jo 6:10; to lean back, Jo 13:25 (T, ἐπιπεσών; v.s. ἀνάκειμαι, ad fin.).†
SYN.: ἀνάκειμαι (q.v.), ἀνακλίνομαι.
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀναπίπτω. For the later meaning ‘‘ lie down, recline,” of which there is no instance in Attic Greek (Rutherford VP p. 294), see P Par 514 (B.c. 160) (= Selections p. 19), ἀναπίπτομαι ἐπ᾽ ἄχυρον . . . ἀναπίπτει καὶ αὐτός. (On the irregular voice, see Proveg. p. 159). Cf. LXX Gen 495 ἀναπεσὼν ἐκοιμήθης ὡς λέων : see Anz Swbsidia, p. 301 f. 3) ςς
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἀναπίπτω (anapiptō) — to recline. ἀναπίπτω, poetry ἀμπ-, fall back, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; lay oneself back, like rowers, [Refs 5th c.BC+], compare e; of riders, ὑπτίους ἀναπεπτωκότας ἐλαύνειν[Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. metaphorically, fall back, give ground, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; flag, lose heart, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ταῖς σπουδαῖς (vulgar form σπονδ-) ἀναπεπτωκέναι[Refs 1st c.BC+]
2. b perfect participle ἀναπεπτωκώς lifeless, of style, σχῆμα ἀ.[Refs 2nd c.AD+]
3. of a plan, to be given up, ἀνεπεπτώκει τὰ τῆς ἐξόδου[Refs 4th c.BC+]
4. ἀ. ἀπ᾽ οἴκων to be banished from one's house, poetical cited in Athenagoraspro Christo 22.
5. recline at meals, like{ἀνάκειμαι}, [NT+2nd c.AD+]
5. b take to one's bed in sickness, [Refs]
6. recoil, of the arms of torsion-engines, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]