Quick Definition
τέλος, ους, τό n.n. an end, purpose, tax
Strong's Definition
from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination (literally, figuratively or indefinitely), result (immediate, ultimate or prophetic), purpose); specially, an impost or levy (as paid)
KJV Usage: + continual, custom, end(-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare 5411
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ους | τελέω
67.66 · Time · A Point of Time with Reference to Duration of Time: Beginning, End
end a point of time marking the end of a duration There are serious problems involved in rendering τέλος[a] in MAT 24:14 and in similar contexts. In a number of languages one simply cannot say ‘the end will come’; rather, it may be necessary to say ‘that is the finish’ or ‘everything is finished.’ In the context of MAT 24:14, however, it may be best to translate ‘God will finish everything.’ The phrase εἰς τέλος in 1TH 2:16 may also be understood as an idiomatic expression involving a degree of completeness (see 78.47).
MAT 10:22 · MAT 24:6 · MAT 24:13 · MAT 24:14 · MRK 3:26 · MRK 13:7 · MRK 13:13 · LUK 1:33 · LUK 21:9 · LUK 22:37 · ROM 10:4 · 1CO 1:8 · 1CO 10:11 · 2CO 3:13 · 2CO 11:15 · 1TH 2:16 · HEB 3:14 · HEB 6:8 · HEB 6:11 · HEB 7:3 · 1PE 4:7 · REV 2:26 · REV 21:6 · REV 22:13
89.40 · Relations · Result
outcome, result, end the result of an event or process, with special focus upon the final state or condition In some languages τέλος in MAT 26:58 may be rendered simply as ‘what would happen’ or ‘what would finally happen.’
MAT 26:58 · ROM 6:21 · ROM 6:22 · PHP 3:19 · HEB 6:8 · JAS 5:11 · 1PE 1:9 · 1PE 4:17
89.55 · Relations · Purpose
purpose, intent, goal the purpose of an event or state, viewed in terms of its result
78.47 · Degree · Completely, Enough [Completive Degree]
Collocation: εἰς τέλος
completely, totally, entirely, wholly a degree of completeness, with the possible implication of purpose or result It is also possible to understand the phrase ἕως τέλους in the temporal sense of ‘to the end’ (see 67.66).
It is also possible to understand τέλος in the expression εἰς τέλος in 1TH 2:16 as a temporal expression, with εἰς (67.117) as a marker of an extent of time, so that this passage may be rendered as ‘and in the end wrath has come down on them’ or ‘and wrath has at last come down on them’ (see 67.66). In this context ὀργή may very well be translated as ‘punishment’ (38.10), and in many languages it is necessary to indicate the agent of such punishment. The same ambiguity with εἰς τέλος occurs in JHN 13:1 in the clause εἰς τέλος ἠγάπησεν αὐτούς, meaning ‘he loved them completely’ or ‘he loved them to the end’ (see 67.119).
57.179 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Tax, Tribute
duty, tax, revenue payments customarily due a governmental authority The term τέλος[e] differs from κῆνσος (57.180) in being somewhat more generic in meaning. In certain contexts τέλος[e] may refer to various kinds of direct taxes, customs duties, and tribute money, but in contexts such as MAT 17:25 in which κῆνσος also occurs, τέλος probably refers primarily to customs duties, while κῆνσος refers to a direct poll tax upon all adult males.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
τέλος, -ους, τό, [cf. Curtius § 238], fr. Hom. down, Sept. mostly for ΤΡ; 1. end, i.e. a. termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be, (in the Grk. writ. always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time, which they call τελευτή ; in the Scriptures also of a temporal end; an end in space is everywhere called πέρας) : τῆς βασιλείας, Lk. i. 33; ζωῆς, Heb. vii. 3; rod καταργουμένου, 2 Co. iii. 13; τὰ τέλη τῶν αἰώνων, 1 Co. x. 11 (τέλος τῶν ἡμερῶν, Neh. xiii. 6; τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐτῶν; 2 K. viii. 3; ἀρχὴ καὶ τέλος καὶ μεσότης χρόνων, τέλος θ Sap. vii. 18); i. 4. he who puts an end to: τέλος νόμου Χριστός, Christ has brought the law to an end (πᾶσίν ἐστιν ἀνθρώποις τέλος τοῦ βίου θάνατος, Dem. 1306, 25), Ro. x. 4; οἵ. Fritzsche ad loc., vol. ii. p. 877 586. πάντων τὸ τέλος, the end of all things (i. 6. of the present order of things), 1 Pet. iv. 7; also in the phrases ἕως τέλους, 1 Co. i. 8; 2 Οο. 1.18; μέχρι τέλους, Heb. iii. 6 [Tr mrg. WH br. the cl.], 14; ἄχρι τέλους, Heb. vi. 14; Rev. ii. 26. What ‘end’ is intended the reader must determire by the context; thus, τὸ τέλος denotes the end of the Messianic pangs (dolores Messiae; see ὠδίν) in Mt. xxiv. 6, 14, (opp. to ἀρχὴ ὠδίνων) ; Mk. xiii. 7 (ef. 9); Lk. xxi. 9; τὸ τέλος in 1 Co. xv. 24 denotes either the end of the eschatological events, or the end of the resurrection i.e. the last or third act of the resurrection (to include those who had not belonged to the number of of τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ), 1 Co. xv. 24 cf. 23; see De Wette ad loc.; Wetzel in the Theol. Stud. τι. Krit. for 1836, p. 978; Grimm in the Zeitschr. f. wissensch. Theol. for 1873, p. 388 sqq.; [yet cf. Heinrict in Meyer (6te Aufl.) ad loc.J. εἰς τέλος, ---- ἰο the very end appointed for these evils, Mt. x. 22; xxiv.13; Mk. xiii. 13; also at the end, at last, finally, Lk. xviii. 5 (Vulg. in novissimo) [i. e. lest at last by her coming she wear me out; but al. take it i. q. Hebr. nyo (cf. Job xiv. 20 ete. see Trommius) and connect it with the ptep., lest by her coming to the last i.e. continually; see ὑπωπιάζω, sub fin.) ; Jn. xiii. 1 [al. fo the utlermost, completely (cf. our to the very last); see Westcott, and Weiss (in Meyer 6te Aufl.) ad loc.; Grimm on 2 Mace. viii. 29], cf. ἀγαπάω, sub fin., (Xen. oec. 17, 10; Hes. opp. 292; Hdt. 3, 40; 9, 37; Soph. Phil. 409; Eur. Ion 1615; Ael. v.h. 10,16); to the (procurement of their) end, i.e. to destruction [A. V. to the uttermost (cf. reff. ἃ. s.)], 1 Th. ii. 16 (for 792, 2 Chr. xii. 12); τέλος ἔχειν, to have an end, be finished, (often in Grk. writ.), Lk. xxii. 37 [al. give τέλος here the sense of fulfilment (cf. τελέω, 2) ]; 1. q. to perish, Mk. iii. 26. τὸ δὲ τέλος, adverbially, finally (denique vero): 1 Pet. iii. 8 (Plat. legg. 6 p. 768 b.; καὶ τό ye τέλος, ibid. 5 p. 740 e.; but generally in prof. auth. τέλος in this sense wants the article; οἵ. Passow ii. p. 1857"; [L. and S. s.v. I. 4 a.]). b. the end i.e. the last in any succession or series: (ἡ) ἀρχὴ καὶ (τὸ) τέλος, of God, who by his perpetuity survives all things, i. e. eternal, Rev. i. 8 Rec.; xxi. 6; xxii. 13. ce. that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue: Mt. xxvi. 58; final lot, fate, as if a recompense: with a gen. of the thing, Ro. vi. 21 sq-; Heb. vi. 8; 1 Pet. i.9; with a gen. of the person whom the destiny befalls, 2 Co. xi. 15; Phil. iii. 19; 1 Pet. iv. 17; τοῦ κυρίου (gen. of author), the closing experience which befell Job by God’s command, Jas. v. 11 (referring to Job xlii. [esp. 12]). d. the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose: 1 Tim. i. 5 (often so in philos. fr. Plat. de rep. 6 p. 494 ἃ. down; cf. Fritzsche on Rom. ii. p. 378). 2. toll, custom, [i. e. an indirect tax on goods; see φόρος and κῆνσος]: Mt. xvii. 25; Ro. xiii. 7, (Xen., Plat., Polyb., Aeschin., Dem., al.: 1 Mace. x. 31; xi. 35).* 0 τεοσαρακοντατέσσαρες
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
τέλος telos 40x
an end attained, consummation; an end, closing act, Mt. 24:6, 14; 1 Cor. 15:24; full performance, perfect discharge, Rom. 10:4; fulfillment, realization, Lk. 22:37; final dealing, developed issue, Jas. 5:11; issue, final stage, 1 Cor. 10:11; issue, result, Mt. 26:58; Rom. 6:21, 22; 1 Pet. 1:9; antitypical issue, 2 Cor. 3:13; practical issue, 1 Tim. 1:5; ultimate destiny, Phil. 3:19; Heb. 6:8; 1 Pet. 4:17; a tax or dues, Mt. 17:25; Rom. 13:7; εἰς τέλος, to the full, 1 Thess. 2:16; εἰς τέλος, continually, Lk. 18:5; εἰς τέλος, μέχρι, ἄχρι τέλους, throughout, Mt. 10:22; Mk. 13:13; Jn. 13:1; Heb. 3:6, 14; 6:11; Rev. 2:26
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
τέλος, -ους, τό
[in LXX for קֵץ, etc.; εἰς τὸ τ., chiefly for לָנֶצַח and cognate forms ;]
end: most freq. of the termination or limit of an act or state (in NT also of the end of a period of time, cl. τελευτή), Lk 1:33, I Co 10:11, II Co 3:13, I Pe 4:7; by meton., of one who makes an end, Ro 10:4; ἕως (ἄχρι, μέκρι) τέλους, I Co 1:8, II Co 1:13, He 3:14 6:11, Re 2:26; εἰς τ., to or at the end, Mt 10:22, Mk 13:13, Lk 18:5, Jo 13:1 (or here, to the uttermost, v. Westc., in l.); τ. ἔχειν, Lk 22:37; adverbially, τὸ δὲ τέλος, finally, I Pe 3:8; of the last in a series, Re 21:6 22:13; of the issue, fate or destiny, Mt 26:58; c. gen. rei, Ro 6:21, al.; c. gen. pers., II Co 11:13, al.; of the aim or purpose, I Ti 1:5.
toll, custom, revenue: Ro 13:7; pl., as most usually, Mt 17:25
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
τέλος (1) “end”: P Eleph 113 (B.c. 311-0) (= Selections, p. 3) ἐγ δίκης κατὰ νόμον τέλος ἐχούσης, ‘as if a formal decree of the court had been obtained,” P Petr II, 40(α) 33 (iii/B.c.) (=Witkowski*, p. 41) ἡ ἐλεφαντηγὸΓ[ς] (“the elephant-transport”) ἡ ἐν Βερενίκηι τέλος ἔχει (= τετέλεσται), P Leid {50 (st half ii/B.c.) (=I. p. 124) τέλος ἔχει πάντα, παρὲξ τῆς ἐπιγραφῆς (cf. Lk 2257, Field WVo/es, p. 76). The various prepositional phrases formed with τέλος may be illustrated by P Petr II. 13(19)® (mid. iii/B.c.) (= Witkowski?, p. 19) τὴν πᾶσαν σπουδὴν πόησαι [το]ῦ ἀφεθῆναί σε διὰ τέλους, P Tebt I. 3811 (B.c. 113) (=Chrest. I. p. 363) τῆς ἐγλήμψεως els τέλος καταλελ[ειμμέν]ης, ‘my enterprise has been made a complete failure ’’ (Edd.) (cf. 1 Thess 215 with Milligan’s note, and Jn 13! with the discussion in Abbott 7G, p- 247 ff), OGZS go! (Rosetta-stone—B.C. 196) τινὰς μὲν eis τέλος ἀφῆκεν, ἄλλας δὲ κεκούφικεν, P Tebt I. 145 (B.C. 114)7péxpe δὲ τοῦ τὸ προκείμενον ἐπὶ τέλος ἀχθῆναι, “until the matter was concluded” (Edd.), P Oxy IV. γ249 (A.D. 155) ἐπὶ τέλει τοῦ χρόνου, 1). VIII. 112829 (A.D. 173) ἐπὶ τέλει ἑκαστοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ, ‘‘at the end of each year,” 7d. XIV. 16949 (a lease—A.D. 280) ἐπὶ τέλει τοῦ χρόνου παραδότω τὴν οἰκίαν καθαρὰν ἀπὸ κοπρίωνι---ιῶ), P Tebt II. 37017 (sale of a crop—A.D. 128) πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὄντων τῶν μέχρι τέλους μερισμῶν, ‘‘being ourselves responsible throughout for rates upon it” (Edd.), and 26. 42018 (iii/A.D.) ἀπὸ ἀρχῆς μέχρι τέλους (cf. Heb 3° NAC). For τέλος, as in 1 Tim 1°, cf. Epict. Grzomol. 16 (ed. Schenkl, p. 466) τέλος δὲ τοῦ μὲν (sc. καλῶς ζῆν) ἔπαινος ἀληθής, τοῦ δὲ (sc. πολυτελῶς ζῆν) ψόγος, and for τὸ τέλος κυρίου, as in Jas 511, cf. Bischoff in ZV7/V vii. (1906), p. 274 ff. See also PSI I. 17 verso II. (iii/A.D. ?)— οὐ γάρ πω τοιοῦτος ἀνήλυθεν els ᾿Αχέροντα" τῶν ὁσίων ἀνδρῶν ᾿Ηλύσιον τὸ τέλος, ἔνθα διατρίβειν ἔλαχεν πάλαι ἔκ τινος ἐσθλῆς μοίρης’ οὐδὲ θανεῖν τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς λέγεται. (2) ““ἴαχ,᾿ ““10]1 : (a) sing., asin Rom 137, in VPZi. 115% (ii/i(?)B.C.) τέλος οἰκίας καὶ αὐλῆς, ‘tax for house and court,” Meyer Os¢r 313 (A.D. 32)(= Deissmann LA Z?, p. 111) ἀπέχων (Δ ἀπέχω) παρὰ σοῦ τόλες (1. τέλος) ἐπιξένου Θώυθ Kal Φαῶφι (δραχμὰς) B, “1 have received from you alien tax (for the months) Thoyth and Phaophi 2 drachmae,” P Lond 2975 (A.D. 119) (ΞΞ 11. p. 111) τέλος ἐγκύκλιουί = —ov), ‘general tax,” 7. 4681 (ii/A.D.) (ΞΞ 11. p. 81) τέλος καμήλ(ων), P Oxy 1X. 1200! (A.D. 266) τὸ τοῦ τειμήματος τέλος, “the ad valorem tax” (Ed.): (b) plur., as in Mt 17%, in P Cairo Zen II. 592407 (B.C. 253) ἵνα μή τι κατὰ τὰ τέλη ἐνοχληθῶσιν, with reference to certain mules which were not required to pay toll, and PSI III. 222? (ili/a.p.) στ])ιχεῖν τὰ τεταγμένα τέλη. For subst. τέλεσμα cf. P Oxy VIII. 11231° (a.p. 158-9) περὶ τῶν τῆς αὐτῆς δημοσίας γῆς τελεσμάτίων] πάντων, “in regard to all dues upon the said public land,’’ and P Ryl II. 967 (A.D. 117-8) (s.v. τοσοῦτος),
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
τέλος (telos) — goal/tax. τέλος, εος, τό, (τέλλομαι, τέλλω) coming to pass, performance, consummation, εἰ γὰρ ἐπ᾽ ἀρῇσιν τ. ἡμετέρῃσι γένοιτο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; δίκη δ᾽ ὑπὲρ ὕβριος ἴσχει ἐς τ. ἐξελθοῦσα issuing in fulfilment, execution,[Refs 4th c.BC+]; καθήκει νῦν [τὰν γνώμαν] ἐπὶ τέλος ἀχθῆμεν [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἔλπομαι μέν, ἐν θεῷ γε μὰν τ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; result, τ. δ᾽ οὔ πώ τι πέφανται [Refs 8th c.BC+] the coming to pass (outbreak) of.., [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; τί μὰν ἀφήσει τ.; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τί ἔσται τὸ τ. τῶν γιγνομένων τούτων ἐμο; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀποίητον.. θέμεν ἔργων τ. undo things done, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁδοῦ τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φόνου τ. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; τῷ τ. πίστιν φέρων the outcome, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ζεὺς πάντων ἐφορᾷ τ. [Refs 6th c.BC+]; μάχης.. κεκύρωται τ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; διὰ μάχης ἥξω τέλους, ={διὰ μάχης ἥξω}, [Refs]; ἐπ᾽ ἀμφότερα μαχᾶν τάμνειν τ. to seek to determine the issue of the battles in both directions, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; more generally, event, οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγέ τί φημι τ. χαριέστερον εἶναι ἢ ὅτε.. [Refs 8th c.BC+]: in concrete sense, result, product, τ. εὐπεψίας αἱματικῆς πιμελὴ καὶ στέαρ [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. in contexts like [Refs 8th c.BC+], τ. can be understood as power of deciding, supreme power, and so we have τ. μὲν Ζεὺς ἔχει.. πάντων ὅσ᾽ ἐστί [Refs 7th c.BC+]; καὶ τοῖσ᾽ (i.e. ἰητροῖς) οὐδὲν ἔπεστι τ. they have no power or efficacy, [Refs 6th c.BC+], of persons, to have the power to ratify, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὅ τι ἂν δόξῃ τοῖς πλείοσι τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι τ. the decision of the majority must be final, [Refs]; κύριος ἔστω ἐπιβάλλειν κατὰ τὸ τ. shall have authority to inflict a fine up to the limit of his powers, Legal cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τοῖς κατ᾽ ἐμπορίαν παραγιγνομένοις μηδὲν ἔστω τ. πλὴν ἐπὶ κήρυκι ἢ γραμματεῖ Foed. cited in [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τ. ἔχειν, of things, to have decisive or final authority, σφῷν μὲν ἐντολὴ Διὸς ἔχει τ. δή [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἡ.. τούτου αἰτίασις οὐκ ἔχει τ. has no validity, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὶν τ. τι αὐτῶν ἔχειν before any of the terms had validity, i.e. had been ratified, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοῦ ζῆν καὶ μὴ ζῆν τὸ τ. ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ ἀναπνεῖν the decisive difference between.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. magistracy, office, τ. δωδεκάμηνον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ ἐν τ. men in office, magistrates, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔξω τῶν βασιλέων καὶ τῶν μάλιστα ἐν τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ τὰ τ. ἔχοντες Foed. cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ τ. the government, τοιαῦτ᾽ ἔδοξε τῷδε Καδμείων τέλει [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὰ τ. the magistrates, [Refs 5th c.BC+]participle and plural (variant) verb) [Refs 5th c.BC+]
4. decision, doom, Ζεὺς.. οἶδε, ὁπποτέρῳ θανάτοιο τ. πεπρωμένον ἐστί [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μήτηρ.. μέ φησι διχθαδίας Κῆρας φερέμεν θανάτοιο τέλος δέ (or τέλοσδε) [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐξέφυγον θανάτου τ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—judicial decision, ἀμμενῶ τ. δίκης [Refs]; οὐκ ἔχουσα τῆς δίκης τ. not having authority to decide the case, [Refs]; ἦ κἀπ᾽ ἐμοὶ τρέποιτ᾽ ἂν αἰτίας τ.; will you submit the decision of this case to me? [Refs]; τὸ τ. κρίνειν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; decision of an assembly, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of a king, [Refs]; ἐξαιτράπης ἐὼν Ἰωνίης, τ. ἐποίησε τὴν γῆν εἶναι Μιλησίων probably in [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ὥς τοι ἐγὼ μύθου τ. ἐν φρεσὶ θείω the summing up or crux of the matter, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
5. something done or ordered to be done, task, service, duty, γνῶ.. ὅ οἱ οὔ τι τ. κατὰ καίριον ἦλθεν on no fatal errand, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὅσοις τοῦτ᾽ ἐπέσταλται τ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μ᾽ Ἀπόλλων τῷδ᾽ ἐπέστησεν τέλει[Refs]; ἄυπνα ὀμμάτων τέλη the wakeful duties (or services) of the eyes, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀμφοτερᾶν τοι χαρίτων.. ζεύξω τ. the rendering of both services, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; αἰτουμένῳ μοι κοῦφον εἰ δοίης τ. a small service or favour, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; obligation to render a service or payment, ὅτε δὴ μισθοῖο τ. πολυγηθέες ὧραι ἐξέφερον the Payment(-day) of the wage, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐν τέλει μαθεῖν to be taught for a fee, [Refs]
6. plural, services or offerings due to the gods, δαίμοσιν θῦσαι θέλουσα πελανόν, ὧν τέλη τάδε [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔλιπον Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ πάγχαλκα τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the Eleusinian mysteries, οὗ πότνιαι σεμνὰ τιθηνοῦνται τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; called μεγάλα τ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; rarely in singular, τοῦδε μυστικοῦ τέλους this mystic rite, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the marriage rite, τ. γάμοιο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; γαμήλιον τ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὰ νυμφικὰ τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
7. service rendered by a citizen in the Solonian constitution to the state, also his rating according to this service, θητικοῦ ἀντὶ τέλους ἱππάδ᾽ ἀμειψάμενος epigram cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τιμήματι διεῖλεν εἰς τέτταρα τ. four ratings or classes, [Refs]; later, τὸ τῶν ἱππέων τ., Latin ordo equester, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
8. dues exacted by the state, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀγορᾶς τ. a market-toll, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πορνικὸν τ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τ. πρίασθαι, πωλεῖν, farm a tax or let it, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐκλέγειν. πράττειν, levy it, D.[same place], [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τελεῖν pay a tax or duty, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰ τὰ τ. τελεῖ, ποῖον τ. τελεῖ, questions put to candidates at Athens, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
9. financial means, expenditure, usually in dative plural, ὃς ἂν τοῖς ἰδίοις τ. μὴ ἑαυτὸν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν πόλιν ὠφελῇ by the use of his own means, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κακῶς ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς ποιούντων τέλεσι τοῖς οἰκείοις if we harm ourselves at our own expense, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
10. a military station or post with defined duties (compare signification [Refs 8th c.BC+]; δόρπον ἔπειθ᾽ ἑλόμεσθα κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσιν at our posts, in the ranks, [Refs]; later, military unit, division, squadron, τέλει ἑνὶ τῶν ἱππέων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in the Roman army, legion, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
10. b a force of [Refs]infantry, ={μεραρχία}, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
10. c a force of [Refs]cavalry, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
II. δίρρυμά τε καὶ τρίρρυμα τέλη troops or columns of.. chariots, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of ships, τρία τ. ποιήσαντες τῶν νεῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+] flocks of birds, variant for{γένεα}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.12. a territorial division, Στρατικὸν τ. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; Κορωνείων τὸ τ. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; τὸ Λοκρικὸν τ. [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II. degree of completion or attainment, τόσσον μὲν ἔχον τ., οὔατα δ᾽ οὔ πω.. προσέκειτο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; degree of maturity, age, ἐπὴν δὴ τοῦτο τ. παραμείψεται ὥρης [Refs 6th c.BC+]; εἰς ἀνδρὸς τ. ἰέναι man's estate, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. b a length of time (or space), term, course, ἀρετάς, αἷσι Κλεωνυμίδαι θάλλοντες αἰεὶ σὺν θεῷ θνατὸν διέρχονται βιότου τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. state of completion or maturity, τ. λαβεῖν, ἔχειν, of plants or animals, to attain maturity, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence, completion, end, finish, τ. ἐπιθεῖναι τῷ λόγῳ complete it, [Refs]; ὃ πᾶσι τοῖς προτέροις ἐπ έθηκε τ. as a finish to all his former acts, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. λαβεῖν to be completed, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐ τ. ἵκεο μύθων didst not reach the end of thy speech, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἑκάστων πρὸς τέλος ἀχθέντων [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἡ εἰκοστὴ τοῦ νοσήματος ἡμέρα τ. μὲν τριῶν ἑβδομάδων, ἓξ δὲ τετράδων [Refs 2nd c.AD+] —frequently in Adverbial phrases:
II.2. a τέλος at last, ὥστε τ. ἡσυχίαν ἦγον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but most frequently at the beginning of the clause, μάχης δὲ καρτερῆς γενομένης, τέλος οὐδέτεροι νικήσαντες διέστησαν [Refs 6th c.BC+]; ἀλλὰ τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καὶ τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τό γε τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. b <ἐς τ. in the end, in the long run, πάντως ἐς τ. ἐξεφάνη [Refs 6th c.BC+]; εἰς τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁρῶντες τὴν Λιβύην εἰς τ. ἀβλαβῆ διαμένουσαν altogether, completely, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἐς τ. ἄνυε μοίρας uncertain reading in [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
II.2. c διὰ τέλους (originally perhaps from signification [Refs] performance or time), through to the end, completely, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; throughout, all the time, always, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; permanently, for good, τοῦ ἀφεθῆναί σε διὰ τ. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
II.2. d ἐπὶ τέλος at the end, opposed to ἐν ἀρχῇ, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II.2. e τέλει perhaps in the end, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.3. especially τ. ἔχειν βίου to have reached the end of life, to be dead, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: less frequently absolutely, death, ἐλπίς ἐστι νύκτερον τ. μολεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔχει τὸ κάλλιστον τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔχει τ., ={τετελεύτηκε}, Laconian phrase accusative to [Refs 5th c.BC+]; reversely, τ. ἔχει τινά [Refs 5th c.BC+] —but ὀλβίως ἔλυσεν τὸ τ. βίου has paid life's toll [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ τ. ὁ χρόνος ἀπαιτεῖ poetical in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὶν ἂν πέλας (variant{τέλος}) γραμμῆς ἵκηται καὶ τ. κάμψῃ βίου [Refs]
II.4. end, cessation, ὡς δὲ πρὸς τ. γόων ἀφίκοντ᾽ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πῶς τροχηλάτου μανίας ἂν ἔλθοιμ᾽ ἐς τ. πόνων τ᾽ ἐμῶ; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὅταν δὴ πημάτων λάβῃ τ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.5. end of a word, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of a sentence, ἐπὶ τέλει πρόσκειται [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of a chapter or book, ἐπὶ τέλει ἀναλυθήσεται [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπὸ τέλους τοῦ σταδίου, opposed to ἀπὸ μέσου, [Refs]
III. achievement, attainment, τηλοῦ ἐμοὶ νόστοιο τ. γλυκεροῖο γενέσθαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πῶς ἂν καὶ τοῦτο τοῦ τ. τυγχάνοι, i.e. might be achieved, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
III.2. winning-post, goal in a race, πρὸς τ. ὀρνύμενον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in a contest, ἔστιν δ᾽ ἀφάνεια τύχας καὶ μαρναμένων, πρὶν τ. ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰς τ. ἐλθεῖν, of runners in a race, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.2. b prize, ἔφερε πυγμᾶς τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐ γὰρ ἦν πενταέθλιον ἀλλ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἑκάστῳ ἔργματι κεῖτο τ. [Refs] (perhaps 'to be the winning post and prize'); κρίνεις τ. ἀρετᾶς [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.3. Philos., full realization, highest point. ideal, ἅπτεσθαι τοῦ τ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὸς τ. ἰὼν τῶν ἐρωτικῶν[Refs]
III.3. b the end or purpose of action, τ. εἶναι ἁπασῶν τῶν πράξεων τὸ ἀγαθόν [Refs 4th c.BC+]: hence, the final cause, ={τὸ οὗ ἕνεκα}, [Refs]; hence simply ={τὸ ἀγαθόν}, the chief good, [Refs 4th c.BC+]