THE CASES
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1279
Of the cases belonging to the Indo-European language, Greek has lost the free use of three: instrumental, locative, and ablative. A few of the forms of these cases have been preserved (341, 1449, 1535); the syntactical functions of the instrumental and locative were taken over by the dative; those of the ablative by the genitive. The genitive and dative cases are therefore composite or mixed cases.
N.—The reasons that led to the formation of composite cases are either (1) formal or (2) functional. Thus (1) χώρᾳ is both dat. and loc.; λόγοις represents the instr. λόγοις and the loc. λόγοισι; in consonantal stems both ablative and genitive ended in -ος; (2) verbs of ruling may take either the dat. or the loc., hence the latter case would be absorbed by the former; furthermore the use of prepositions especially with loc. and instr. was attended by a certain indifference as regards the form of the case.
1280
Through the influence of one construction upon another it often becomes impossible to mark off the later from the original use of the genitive and dative. It must be remembered that since language is a natural growth and Greek was spoken and written before formal categories were set up by Grammar, all the uses of the cases cannot be apportioned with definiteness.
1281
The cases fall into two main divisions. Cases of the Subject: nominative (and vocative). Cases of the Predicate: accusative, dative. The genitive may define either the subject (with nouns) or the predicate (with verbs). On the nominative, see 938 ff.
1282
The content of a thought may be expressed in different ways in different languages. Thus, πείθω σε, but persuadeo tibi (in classical Latin): and even in the same language, the same verb may have varying constructions to express different shades of meaning.
VOCATIVE
1283
The vocative is used in exclamations and in direct address:
oh Zeus and ye godsὦ Ζεῦ καὶ θεοί
my good fellowἄνθρωπε
a. The vocative is never followed immediately by δέ or γάρ.
1284
In ordinary conversation and public speeches, the polite ὦ is usually added. Without ὦ the vocative may express astonishment, joy, contempt, a threat, or a warning, etc. Thus ἀκούεις Αἰσχίνη; d'ye hear, Aeschines? D. 18.121. But this distinction is not always observed, though in general ὦ has a familiar tone which was unsuited to elevated poetry.
1285
The vocative is usually found in the interior of a sentence. At the beginning it is emphatic. In prose ἔφη, in poetry ὦ, may stand between the vocative and an attributive or between an attributive and the vocative; in poetry ὦ may be repeated for emphasis.
1286
In late poetry a predicate adjective may be attracted into the vocative: ὄλβιε κῶρε γένοιο blessed, oh boy, mayest thou be Theocr. 17. 66. Cp. Matutine pater seu Iane libentius audis Hor. S. 2. 6. 20.
1287
By the omission of σύ or ὑ̄μεῖς the nominative with the article may stand in apposition to a vocative: ὦ ἄνδοες οἱ παρόντες you, gentlemen, who are present P. Pr. 337c,
Cyrus and the rest of you Persiansὦ Κῦρε καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι Πέρσαι
1288
The nominative may be used in exclamations as a predicate with the subject unexpressed:
oh loathed of heavenὦ πικρὸς θεοῖς
ah dear Menelausφίλος ὦ Μενέλᾱε
oh city and peopleὦ πόλις καὶ δῆμε
oh the noble manὢ γενναῖος
a. οὗτος is regular in address: οὗτος, τί πάσχεις, ὦ Ξανθίᾱ; ho there, I say, Xanthias, what is the matter with you? Ar. Vesp. 1; ὦ οὗτος, Αἴᾱς ho there, I say, Ajax S. Aj. 89.
GENITIVE
1289
The genitive most commonly limits the meaning of substantives, adjectives, and adverbs, less commonly that of verbs.
Since the genitive has absorbed the ablative it includes (1) the genitive proper, denoting the class to which a person or thing belongs, and (2) the ablatival genitive.
a. The name genitive is derived from casus genitivus, the case of origin, the inadequate Latin translation of γενικὴ πτῶσις case denoting the class.
THE GENITIVE PROPER WITH NOUNS: (ADNOMINAL GENITIVE)
1290
A substantive in the genitive limits the meaning of a substantive on which it depends.
1291
The genitive limits for the time being the scope of the substantive on which it depends by referring it to a particular class or description, or by regarding it as a part of a whole. The genitive is akin in meaning to the adjective and may often be translated by an epithet. Cp. στέφανος χρῡσίου with χρῡσοῦς στέφανος, φόβος πολεμίου with πολέμιος φόβος, τὸ εὖρος πλέθρου with τὸ εὖρος πλεθριαῖον (1035). But the use of the adjective is not everywhere parallel to that of the genitive.
1292
In poetry a genitive is often used with βίᾱ, μένος, σθένος might, etc., instead of the corresponding adjective: βίη Διομήδεος mighty Diomede E 781.
1293
In poetry δέμας form, κάρᾱ and κεφαλή head, etc., are used with a genitive to express majestic or loved persons or objects: Ἰσμήνης κάρᾱ S. Ant. 1.
1294
χρῆμα thing is used in prose with a genitive to express size, strength, etc.:
a very large mass of slingersσφενδονητῶν πάμπολύ τι χρῆμα
1295
The genitive with substantives denotes in general a connection or dependence between two words. This connection must often be determined (1) by the meaning of the words, (2) by the context, (3) by the facts presupposed as known (1301). The same construction may often be placed under more than one of the different classes mentioned below; and the connection between the two substantives is often so loose that it is difficult to include with precision all cases under specific grammatical classes.
a. The two substantives may be so closely connected as to be equivalent to a single compound idea: τελευτὴ τοῦ βίου ‘life-end’ (cp. life-time) X. A. 1.1.1. Cp. 1146.
b. The genitive with substantives has either the attributive (1154), or, in the case of the genitive of the divided whole (1306), and of personal pronouns (1185), the predicate, position (1168).
1296
Words denoting number, especially numerals or substantives with numerals, often agree in case with the limited word instead of standing in the genitive:
a tribute of four talentsφόρος τέσσαρα τάλαντα
GENITIVE OF POSSESSION OR BELONGING
The genitive denotes ownership, possession, or belonging:
the house of Simonἡ οἰκίᾱ ἡ Σίμωνος
the expedition of Cyrusὁ Κύ̄ρου στόλος
Here may be classed the genitive of origin:
the laws of Solonοἱ Σόλωνος νόμοι
The possessive genitive is used with the neuter article (singular or plural) denoting affairs, conditions, power, and the like:
the power of the ephorsτὸ τῶν ἐφόρων
the function of the artτὸ τῆς τέχνης
the maxim of Solonτὸ τοῦ Σόλωνος
the chances of war are uncertainἄδηλα τὰ τῶν πολέμων
the interests of the Stateτὰ τῆς πόλεως
is on the side of the peopleτὰ τοῦ δήμου φρονεῖ
chanceτὸ τῆς τύχης
we eldersτὸ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἡμῶν
The genitive of possession may be used after a demonstrative or relative pronoun:
he attacks this action of mineτοῦτό μου διαβάλλει
With persons the genitive may denote the relation of child to parent, wife to husband, and of inferior to superior: Θουκῡδίδης ὁ Ὀλόρου Thucydides, the son of Olorus T. 4.104 (and so υιός is regularly omitted in Attic official documents), Διὸς Ἄρτεμις Artemis, daughter of Zeus S. Aj. 172,
Melistiche wife of Smicythionἡ Σμῑκυθίωνος Μελιστίχη
the troops of Menonοἱ Μένωνος
a. In poetry we may have an attributive adjective: Τελαμώνιος Αἴᾱς ( = Αἴᾱς ὁ Τελαμῶνος) B 528. Cp. 846 f.
The word on which the possessive genitive depends may be represented by the article: ἀπὸ τῆς ἑαυτῶν from their own country (γῆς) T. 1.15 (cp. 1027 b). A word for dwelling (οἰκίᾱ, δόμος, and also ἱερόν) is perhaps omitted after ἐν, εἰς, and sometimes after ἐξ. Thus,
at Ariphron'sἐν Ἀρίφρονος
to go to schoolεἰς διδασκάλου φοιτᾶν
I come from Patroclus'sἐκ Πατροκλέους ἔρχομαι
Predicate Use.—The genitive may be connected with the noun it limits by means of a verb.
Hippocrates is of an influential houseἹπποκράτης ἐστὶ οἰκίᾱς μεγάλης
the city will belong to the BoeotiansΒοιωτῶν ἡ πόλις ἔσται
Zelea is in Asiaἡ Ζέλειά ἐστι τῆς Ἀσίᾱς
nor did they belong to the same Thraceοὐδὲ τῆς αὐτῆς Θρᾴκης ἐγένοντο
the clauses in the bill which he attacks, are theseἃ διώκει τοῦ ψηφίσματος, ταῦτ᾽ ἐστίν
The genitive with εἰμί may denote the person whose nature, duty, custom, etc., it is to do that set forth in an infinitive subject of the verb: πενίᾱν φέρειν οὐ παντός, ἀλλ᾽ ἀνδρὸς σοφοῦ 'tis the sage, not every one, who can bear poverty Men. Sent. 463,
this seems to be the duty of a just citizenδοκεῖ δικαίου τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι πολί̄του
it is the custom of conquerors to keep what is their own and to take the possessions of the defeatedτῶν νῑκώντων ἐστὶ καὶ τὰ ἑαυτῶν σῴζειν καὶ τὰ τῶν ἡττωμένων λαμβάνειν
With verbs signifying to refer or attribute, by thought, word, or action, anything to a person or class. Such verbs are to think, regard, make, name, choose, appoint, etc.
deem that the rest belongs to chanceλογίζου . . . τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα τῆς τύχης
deemed a daughter of a house most freeτῶν ἐλευθερωτάτων οἴκων νομισθεῖσα
put me down as one of those who desire exceedingly to serve on horsebackἐμὲ γράφε τῶν ἱππεύειν ὑπερεπιθῡμούντων
assigned to the first classτῆς πρώτης τάξεως τεταγμένος
I reckon as belonging to the good fortune of the Stateτῆς ἀγαθῆς τύχης τῆς πόλεως εἶναι τίθημι
but if some are claiming Asia as their ownεἰ δέ τινες τὴν Ἀσίᾱν ἑαυτῶν ποιοῦνται
he thinks that you are in his powerνομίζει ὑ̄μᾶς ἑαυτοῦ εἶναι
GENITIVE OF THE DIVIDED WHOLE (PARTITIVE GENITIVE)
The genitive may denote a whole, a part of which is denoted by the noun it limits. The genitive of the divided whole may be used with any word that expresses or implies a part.
Position.—The genitive of the whole stands before or after the word denoting the part:
targeteers of the Thraciansτῶν Θρᾳκῶν πελτασταί
the needy among the citizensοἱ ἄποροι τῶν πολῑτῶν
those of the unrighteous who come hereοἱ τῶν ἀδίκων ἀφικνούμενοι
When all are included there is no partition: so in οὗτοι πάντες all of these, all these, τέτταρες ἡμεῖς ἦμεν there were four of us,
the entire body of the hoplitesτὸ πᾶν πλῆθος τῶν ὁπλῑτῶν
The idea of division is often not explicitly stated. See third example in 1310.
(I) The genitive of the divided whole is used with substantives.
some part of the barbariansμέρος τι τῶν βαρβάρων
Chorographic Genitive.—
to Oenoë in Atticaτῆς Ἀττικῆς ἐς Οἰνόην
Cenaeum in Euboeaτὸ Κήναιον τῆς Εὐβοίᾱς
(II) With substantive adjectives and participles.
the unjust among menοἱ ἄδικοι τῶν ἀνθρώπων
alone of the prytansμόνος τῶν πρυτάνεων
few of themὀλίγοι αὐτῶν
whoever of the rest of the Greeks so desiresτῶν ἄλλων Ἑλλήνων ὁ βουλόμενος
the part of the cavern facing themτὸ καταντικρὺ αὐτῶν τοῦ σπηλαίου
Adjectives denoting magnitude, and some others, may conform in gender to the genitive, instead of appearing in the neuter:
they ravaged most of the landἔτεμον τῆς γῆς τὴν πολλήν
But such adjectives, especially when singular, may be used in the neuter:
the greater part of the picked Argivesτῶν Ἀργείων λογάδων τὸ πολύ
(III) With comparatives and superlatives.
the elder of usἡμῶν ὁ γεραίτερος
the oldest of the generalsοἱ πρεσβύτατοι τῶν στρατηγῶν
we make use of imported grain more than all other peopleσί̄τῳ πάντων ἀνθρώπων πλείστῳ χρώμεθ᾽ ἐπεισάκτῳ
my ship was the best sailer of the whole squadronἡ ναῦς ἄριστά μοι ἔπλει παντὸς τοῦ στρατοπέδου
In poetry this use is extended to positive adjectives: ἀριδείκετος ἀνδρῶν conspicuous among men A 248,
oh dear among womenὦ φίλᾱ γυναικῶν
horrors unspeakableἄρρητ᾽ ἀρρήτων
(IV) With substantive pronouns and numerals.
some of them and not othersοἱ μὲν αὐτῶν, οἱ δ᾽ οὔ
those of the enemy who were taken laterοἳ ὕστερον ἐλήφθησαν τῶν πολεμίων
no one in the worldοὐδεὶς ἀνθρώπων
a part of the wallτὶ τοῦ τείχους
one of the godsτὶς θεῶν
a godτὶς θεός
one of the many thingsἓν τῶν πολλῶν
a. With ὀλίγοι and with numerals ἀπό and ἐξ are rarely added:
one of threeἐκ τριῶν ἕν
The genitive of the divided whole may do duty as the subject of a finite verb (928 b) or of the infinitive: (ἔφασαν) ἐπιμειγνύναι σφῶν πρὸς ἐκείνους they said that some of their number associated with them X. A. 3.5.16.
Predicate Use.—
and among them was Phalinusἦν δ᾽ αὐτῶν Φαλῖνος
it would be very strangeτῶν ἀτοπωτάτων ἂν εἴη
GENITIVE OF QUALITY
The genitive to denote quality occurs chiefly as a predicate.
being of a peaceful dispositionἐὼν τρόπου ἡσυχίου
but some few of the same opinion fledοἱ δέ τινες τῆς αὐτῆς γνώμης ὀλίγοι κατέφυγον
this calls for a thorough discussionταῦτα παμπόλλων ἐστὶ λόγων
if these matters seem to involve great expense and much toil and troubleεἰ δοκεῖ ταῦτα καὶ δαπάνης μεγάλης καὶ πόνων πολλῶν καὶ πρᾱγματείᾱς εἶναι
a. The attributive use occurs in poetry:
Europe with its pastures amid fair treesχόρτων εὐδένδρων Εὐρώπᾱς
The use of the genitive to express quality, corresponding to the Latin genitive, occurs in the non-predicate position, only when age or size is exactly expressed by the addition of a numeral (genitive of measure, 1325). The Latin genitive of quality in mulier mirae pulchritudinis is expressed by γυνὴ θαυμασίᾱ κάλλος (or τοῦ κάλλους), γυνὴ θαυμασίᾱ ἰδεῖν, γυνὴ ἔχουσα θαυμάσιον σχῆμα, etc.
GENITIVE OF EXPLANATION (APPOSITIVE GENITIVE)
The genitive of an explicit word may explain the meaning of a more general word.
Ἰ̄λίου πόλις E 642, as urbs Romae,
blasts formed of winds of every sortἄελλαι παντοίων ἀνέμων
Mt. Istoneτὸ ὄρος τῆς Ἰστώνης
the ignorance of thinking one knows what one does not knowἀμαθίᾱ ἡ τοῦ οἴεσθαι εἰδέναι α·̀ οὐκ οἶδεν
a. But with ὄνομα the person or thing named is usually in apposition to ὄνομα:
I gave the youngest the name Callistratusτῷ δὲ νεωτάτῳ ἐθέμην ὄνομα Καλλίστρατον
GENITIVE OF MATERIAL OR CONTENTS
The genitive expresses material or contents.
ἕρκος ὀδόντων the fence (consisting) of the teeth Δ 350,
a spring of sweet waterκρήνη ἡδέος ὕδατος
six hundred talents in taxesἑξακόσια τάλαντα φόρου
Predicate Use:
crowns that were of roses, not of goldστεφάνους ῥόδων ὄντας, ἀλλ᾽ ου᾽ χρῡσίου
a road was paved with stoneἐστρωμένη ἐστὶ ὁδὸς λίθου
GENITIVE OF MEASURE
The genitive denotes measure of space, time, or degree.
a wall eight stades longὀκτὼ σταδίων τεῖχος
he reached such a pitch of boldnessεἰς τοῦτο θράσους ἀφί̄κετο
in utter despondencyἐν παντὶ ἀθῡμίᾱς
to this stage of lifeεἰς τοῦτο τῆς ἡλικίᾱς
Under the head of measure belongs amount:
an income of two minaeδυοῖν μναῖν πρόσοδος
Predicate Use.—
when a man is thirty years oldἐπειδὰν ἐτῶν ᾖ τις τριά̄κοντα
the walls were eight stades longτὰ τείχη ἦν σταδίων ὀκτώ
SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE GENITIVE
With a verbal noun the genitive may denote the subject or object of the action expressed in the noun.
a. Many of these genitives derive their construction from that of the kindred verbs:
desire for waterτοῦ ὕδατος ἐπιθῡμίᾱ
In poetry an adjective may take the place of the genitive:
the return of the kingνόστος ὁ βασίλειος
The Subjective Genitive is active in sense: τῶν βαρβάρων φόβος the fear of the barbarians (which they feel: οἱ βάρβαροι φοβοῦνται) X. A. 1.2.17, ἡ βασιλέως ἐπιορκίᾱ the perjury of the king (βασιλεὺς ἐπιορκεῖ) 3. 2. 4,
their angry feelingsτὸ ὀργιζόμενον τῆς γνώμης
The Objective Genitive is passive in sense, and is very common with substantives denoting a frame of mind or an emotion: φόβος τῶν Εἱλώτων the fear of the Helots (felt towards them: φοβοῦνται τοὺς Εἵλωτας) T. 3.54, ἡ τῶν Ἑλλήνων εὔνοια good-will towards the Greeks (εὐνοεῖ τοῖς Ἕλλησι) X. A. 4.7.20, ἡ τῶν καλῶν συνουσίᾱ intercourse with the good (σύνεισι τοῖς καλοῖς) P. L. 838a.
a. The objective genitive often precedes another genitive on which it depends:
with the request for an allianceμετὰ τῆς ξυμμαχίᾱς τῆς αἰτήσεως
Various prepositions are used in translating the objective genitive:
war with the godsὁ θεῶν πόλεμος
oaths by the godsὅρκοι θεῶν
prayers to the godsθεῶν εὐχαί
anger at injusticeἀδικημάτων ὀργή
moderation in pleasureἐγκράτεια ἡδονῆς
victory over pleasuresἡ τῶν ἡδονῶν νί̄κη
memorials of victory over barbariansτρόπαια βαρβάρων
exhortations to reconciliationπαραινέσεις τῶν ξυναλλαγῶν
tidings about friendsμῦθος φίλων
speech with theeσοῦ μῦθος
release from deathθανάτου λύσις
The objective genitive is often used when a prepositional expression, giving greater precision, is more usual: τὸ Μεγαρέων ψήφισμα the decree relating to (περί) the Megarians T. 1.140, ἀπόβασις τῆς γῆς a descent upon the land (ἐς τὴν γῆν) 1. 108, ἀπόστασις τῶν Ἀθηναίων revolt from the Athenians (ἀπὸ τῶν Ἀθηναίων) 8. 5.
For the objective genitive a possessive pronoun is sometimes used:
for thy sakeσὴν χάριν
calumniation of meδιαβολὴ ἡ ἐμή
speech with theeσοῦ μῦθος
Predicate Use.—οὐ τῶν κακούργων οἶκτος, ἀλλὰ τῆς δίκης compassion is not for wrong-doers, but for justice E. fr. 270.
GENITIVE OF VALUE
The genitive expresses value.
offerings worth three talentsἱερὰ τριῶν ταλάντων
I am defendant in an action involving a thousand drachmasχῑλίων δραχμῶν δίκην φεύγω
Predicate Use:
to ransom the captives at so high a priceτοὺς αἰχμαλώτους τοσούτων χρημάτων λύ̄εσθαι
TWO GENITIVES WITH ONE NOUN
Two genitives expressing different relations may be used with one noun.
by reason of their fear of death men tell liesοἱ ἄνθρωποι διὰ τὸ αὑτῶν δέος τοῦ θανάτου καταψεύδονται
a chorus of old men in honour of DionysusΔιονύ̄σου πρεσβῡτῶν χορός
Laches' command of the fleetἡ τοῦ Αάχητος τῶν νεῶν ἀρχή
GENITIVE WITH VERBS
1339
The genitive may serve as the immediate complement of a verb, or it may appear, as a secondary definition, along with an accusative which is the immediate object of the verb (920, 1392, 1405).
1340
The subject of an active verb governing the genitive may become the subject of the passive construction: Νῑκήρατος ἐρῶν τῆς γυναικὸς ἀντερᾶται Niceratus, who is in love with his wife, is loved in return X. S. 8. 3. Cp. 1745 a.
THE GENITIVE PROPER WITH VERBS
THE PARTITIVE GENITIVE
A verb may be followed by the partitive genitive if the action affects the object only in part. If the entire object is affected, the verb in question takes the accusative.
Ἀδρήστοιο δ᾽ ἔγημε θυγατρῶν he married one of Adrastus' daughters Ξ 121, τῶν πώλων λαμβάνει he takes some of the colts X. A. 4.5.35, λαβόντες τοῦ βαρβαρικοῦ στρατοῦ taking part of the barbarian force 1. 5. 7, κλέπτοντες τοῦ ὄρους seizing part of the mountain secretly 4. 6. 15 (cp. τοῦ ὄρους κλέψαι τι 4. 6. 11), τῆς γῆς ἔτεμον they ravaged part of the land T. 2.56 (cp. τὴν γῆν πᾶσαν ἔτεμον 2. 57 and ἔτεμον τῆς γῆς τὴν πολλήν 2. 56), κατεά̄γη τῆς κεφαλῆς he had a hole knocked somewhere in his head Ar. Vesp. 1428 (
to have one's head brokenτὴν κεφαλὴν κατεᾱγέναι
With impersonals a partitive genitive does duty as the subject:
she had no share in warπολέμου οὐ μετῆν αὐτῇ
I have no part whatever in this affairἐμοὶ οὐδαμόθεν προσήκει τούτου τοῦ πρά̄γματος
The genitive is used with verbs of sharing.
all took part in the festivalπάντες μετεῖχον τῆς ἑορτῆς
the human race has received a portion of immortalityτὸ ἀνθρώπινον γένος μετείληφεν ἀθανασίᾱς
to take a share of foodσί̄του κοινωνεῖν
you have no concern in righteous dealingδικαιοσύνης οὐδὲν ὑ̄μῖν προσήκει
a form of government in which the poor have no part in the management of affairsπολῑτείᾱ, ἐν ᾗ πένησιν οὐ μέτεστιν ἀρχῆς
The part received or taken, if expressed, stands in the accusative. οἱ τύραννοι τῶν μεγίστων ἀγαθῶν ἐλάχιστα μετέχουσι tyrants have the smallest por- tion in the greatest blessings X. Hi. 2.6,
he demands his share of thisτούτων μεταιτεῑ τὸ μέρος
a. With μέτεστι the part may be added in the nominative:
ye too have had a share in these doingsμέτεστι χὐ̄μῖν τῶν πεπρᾱγμένων μέρος
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to touch, take hold of, make trial of.
(ἡ νόσος)
the plague laid hold of the menἥψατο τῶν ἀνθρώπων
on the couch next to meἐν τῇ ἐχομένῃ ἐμοῦ κλί̄νῃ
take our public policy in handἀντιλάβεσθε τῶν πρᾱγμάτων
The genitive of the part, with the accusative of the person (the whole) who has been touched, is chiefly poetical:
but him as he fell, he seized by his feetτὸν δὲ πεσόντα ποδῶν ἔλαβε
they took hold of Orontas by the girdleἔλαβον τῆς ζώνης τὸν Ὀρόντᾱν
taking me by the handμοῦ λαβόμενος τῆς χειρός
to lead the horse by the bridleἄγειν τῆς ἡνίᾱς τὸν ἵππον
they led the cow by the hornsβοῦν δ᾽ ἀγέτην κεράων
Verbs of beseeching take the genitive by analogy to verbs of touching: ἐμὲ λισσέσκετο γούνων she besought me by (clasping) my knees I 451 (cp. γενείου ἁψάμενος λίσσεσθαι beseech by touching his chin K 454).
The genitive is used with verbs of beginning.
a. Partitive:
he said that Cyrus began the discussion as followsἔφη Κῦρον ἄρχειν τοῦ λόγου ὧδε
b. Ablatival (1391) denoting the point of departure: σέο δ᾽ ἄρξομαι I will make a beginning with thee I 97. In this sense ἀπό or ἐξ is usually added: ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ σοῦ D. 18.297,
I will make a beginning by speaking of medicineἄρξομαι ἀπὸ τῆς ἰ̄ᾱτρικῆς λέγων
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to aim at, strive after, desire (genitive of the end desired).
to aim at menἀνθρώπων στοχάζεσθαι
desiring gainἐφῑέμενοι τῶν κερδῶν
all men desire what is goodπάντες τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἐπιθῡμοῦσιν
the passionate love of what is nobleτὸ ἐρᾶν τῶν καλῶν
they are hungry for wealthπεινῶσι χρημάτων
a state thirsting for freedomπόλις ἐλευθερίᾱς διψήσᾱσα
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to reach, obtain (genitive of the end attained).
to attain to virtueτῆς ἀρετῆς ἐφικέσθαι
the javelin-throwers did not hurl far enough to reach the slingersοἱ ἀκοντισταὶ βραχύτερα ἠκόντιζον ἢ ὡς ἐξικνεῖσθαι τῶν σφενδονητῶν
a. This genitive and that of 1349 form the genitive of the goal.
The genitive of the thing obtained may be joined with an ablatival genitive (1410) of the person:
in a case where we expect to win praise from all menοὗ δὲ δὴ πάντων οἰόμεθα τεύξεσθαι ἐπαίνου
It is uncertain whether verbs signifying to miss take a partitive or an ablatival genitive:
no one missed his manοὐδεὶς ἡμάρτανεν ἀνδρός
disappointed in expectationsσφαλέντες τῆς δόξης
Verbs of approaching and meeting take the genitive according to 1343 or 1349. These verbs are poetical. Thus, ἀντιόων ταύρων for the purpose of obtaining (his share of) bulls α 25, ἀντήσω τοῦδ᾽ ἀνέρος I will encounter this man II 423,
to approach the shipsπελάσαι νεῶν
The genitive is used with verbs of smelling.
I smell of perfumeὄζω μύρου
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to enjoy, taste, eat, drink.
we enjoy all the good thingsἀπολαύομεν πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν
enjoy the discourseεὐωχοῦ τοῦ λόγου
few tasted foodὀλίγοι σί̄του ἐγεύσαντο
a. Here belong ἐσθίειν, πί̄νειν when they do not signify to eat up or drink up:
to eat them aliveὠμῶν ἐσθίειν αὐτῶν
drink some wineπί̄νειν οἴνοιο
drink wineπί̄νειν οἶνον
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to remember, remind, forget, care for , and neglect.
remember your absent friendsτῶν ἀπόντων φίλων μέμνησο
I desire to remind you of my past actionsβούλομαι δ᾽ ὑ̄μᾶς ἀναμνῆσαι τῶν ἐμοὶ πεπρᾱγμένων
I fear lest we may forget the way homeδέδοικα μὴ ἐπιλαθώμεθα τῆς οἴκαδε ὁδοῦ
we must pay heed to the world's opinionτῆς τῶν πολλῶν δόξης δεῖ ἡμᾶς φροντίζειν
the serious cannot disregard virtueτοῖς σπουδαίοις οὐχ οἷόν τε τῆς ἀρετῆς ἀμελεῖν
So with μνημονεύειν remember (but usually with the accus., especially of things), ἀμνημονεῖν not to speak of, κήδεσθαι care for, ἐντρέπεσθαι give heed to, ἐνθῡμεῖσθαι think deeply of, προορᾶν make provision for (in Hdt.), μεταμέλει μοι it repents me, καταμελεῖν neglect.
Many of these verbs also take the accusative. With the accus. μεμνῆσθαι means to remember something as a whole, with the gen. to remember something about a thing, bethink oneself. The accus. is usually found with verbs of remembering and forgetting when they mean to hold or not to hold in memory, and when the object is a thing. Neuter pronouns must stand in the accus. ἐπιλανθάνεσθαι forget takes either the genitive or the accusative, λανθάνεσθαι (usually poetical) always takes the genitive. μέλει it is a care, ἐπιμέλεσθαι care for, μεμνῆσθαι think about may take περί with the genitive. οἶδα generally means I remember when it has a person as the object (in the accusative).
Verbs of reminding may take two accusatives:
I have reminded you of thisταῦθ᾽ ὑπέμνησ᾽ ὑ̄μᾶς
With μέλει, the subject, if a neuter pronoun, may sometimes stand in the nominative (the personal construction):
God will care for thisταῦτα θεῷ μελήσει
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to hear and perceive: ἀκούειν, κλύειν (poet.) hear, ἀκροᾶσθαι listen to, αἰσθάνεσθαι perceive, πυνθάνεσθαι hear, learn of, συνῑέναι understand, ὀσφραίνεσθαι scent. The person or thing, whose words, sound, etc. are perceived by the senses, stands in the genitive; the words, sound, etc. generally stand in the accusative.
I heard somebody sayτινὸς ἤκουσ᾽ εἰπόντος
hearing the sound of the trumpetἀκούσαντες τῆς σάλπιγγος
listening to the singerἀκροώμενοι τοῦ ᾁδοντος
all who understood each otherὅσοι ἀλλήλων ξυνί̄εσαν
when one understands what is saidἐπειδὰν συνῑῇ τις τὰ λεγόμενα
I smell onionsκρομμύων ὀσφραίνομαι
a. A supplementary participle is often used in agreement with the genitive of the person from whom something is heard:
the young men will listen when I speakλέγοντος ἐμοῦ ἀκροά̄σονται οἱ νέοι
b. The accusative is almost always used when the thing heard is expressed by a substantivized neuter adjective or participle, but the genitive plural in the case of οὗτος, ὅδε, αὐτός, and ὅς is frequent.
A double genitive, of the person and of the thing, is rare with ἀκούειν:
to listen to my just pleas as regards the indictmentτῶν ὐπὲρ τῆς γραφῆς δικαίων ἀκούειν μου
ἀκούειν, αἰσθάνεσθαι, πυνθάνεσθαι, meaning to become aware of, learn, take the accusative (with a participle in indirect discourse, 2112 b) of a personal or impersonal object: οἱ δέ Πλαταιῆς, ὡς ᾔσθοντο ἔνδον τε ὄντας τοὺς Θηβαίους και κατειλημμένην τὴν πόλιν but the Plataeans, when they became aware that the Thebans were inside and that the city had been captured T. 2.3, πυθόμενοι Ἀρταξέρξην τεθνηκότα having learned that Artaxerxes was dead 4. 50.
a. To hear a thing is usually ἀκούειν τι when the thing heard is something definite and when the meaning is simply hear, not listen to.
ἀκούειν, ἀκροᾶσθαι, πυνθἁνεσθαι, meaning to hear from, learn from, take the genitive of the actual source (1411).
ἀκούειν, κλύειν, πυνθάνεσθαίτινος may mean to hear about, hear of:
but if you hear that he is deadεἰ δέ κε τεθνηῶτος ἀκούσῃς
hearing about theeκλύων σοῦ
when they heard of the capture of Pylosὡς ἐπύθοντο τῆς Πύλου κατειλημμένης
In the meaning heed, hearken, obey, verbs of hearing generally take the genitive: ἄκουε πάντων, ἐκλέγου δ᾽ ἃ συμφέρει listen to everything, but choose that which is profitable Men. Sent. 566,
to submit to enemiesτῶν πολεμίων ἀκούειν
αἰσθάνεσθαι takes the genitive, or (less frequently) the accusative, of the thing immediately perceived by the senses:
they heard the noiseτῆς κραυγῆς ᾔσθοντο
he perceived what was happeningᾔσθετο τὰ γιγνόμενα
when they heard that they were progressing with their fortificationὡς ᾔσθοντο τειχιζόντων
Some verbs, ordinarily construed with the accusative, take the genitive by the analogy of αἰσθάνεσθαι, etc.:
he knew that I was acting absurdlyἔγνω ἄτοπα ἐμοῦ ποιοῦντος
each of us mistaking what the other saysἀγνοοῦντες ἀλλήλων ὅ τι λέγομεν
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to fill, to be full of. The thing filled is put in the accusative.
; will you not cover the sea with your triremes?οὐκ ἐμπλήσετε τὴν θάλατταν τριήρων
to implicate in guiltἀναπλῆσαι αἰτιῶν
to have plenty of provisionsτροφῆς εὐπορεῖν
a trireme stowed with menτριήρης σεσαγμένη ἀνθρώπων
to be filled with prideὕβρεως μεστοῦσθαι
a. Here belong also
his hand drips with sacrifice to Aresχεὶρ στάζει θυηλῆς Ἄρεος
intoxicated with nectarμεθυσθεὶς τοῦ νέκταρος
the spring flows with cold waterἡ πηγὴ ῥεῖ ψῡχροῦ ὕο̂ατος
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to rule, command, lead.
it is divine to rule over willing subjectsθεῖον τὸ ἐθελόντων ἄρχειν
he was master of the seaτῆς θαλάττης ἐκράτει
Love is king of the godsἜρως τῶν θεῶν βασιλεύει
he led the expeditionἡγεῖτο τῆς ἐξόδου
Several verbs of ruling take the accusative when they mean to conquer, overcome (so κρατεῖν), or when they express the domain over which the rule extends; as
try not to lessen your dominion over the Peloponneseτὴν Πελοπόννησον πειρᾶσθε μὴ ἐλά̄σσω ἐξηγεῖσθαι
GENITIVE OF PRICE AND VALUE
The genitive is used with verbs signifying to buy, sell, cost, value, exchange. The price for which one gives or does anything stands in the genitive.
to buy or sell a horse for moneyἀργυρίου πρίασθαι ἢ ἀποδόσθαι ἵππον
they deemed Themistocles worthy of the greatest giftsΘεμιστοκλέᾱ τῶν μεγίστων δωρεῶν ἠξίωσαν
I must not barter my public spirit for any priceοὐκ ἀνταλλακτέον μοι τὴν φιλοτῑμίᾱν οὐδενὸς κέρδους
those who have ruined the highest interests of the State to purchase ephemeral popularityοἱ τῆς παρ᾽ ἡμέρᾱν χάριτος τὰ μέγιστα τῆς πόλεως ἀπολωλεκότες
for how much does he teach? for five minaeπόσου διδάσκει; πέντε μνῶν
the Chaldaeans serve for payοἱ Χαλδαῖοι μισθοῦ στρατεύονται
a. The instrumental dative is also used. With verbs of exchanging, ἀντί is usual (1683).
To value highly and lightly is περὶ πολλοῦ (πλείονος, πλείστου) and περὶ ὀλίγου (ἐλά̄ττονος, ἐλαχίστου) τῑμᾶσθαι or ποιεῖσθαι:
he makes least account of what is most important, and sets higher what is less estimableτὰ πλείστου ἄξια περὶ ἐλαχίστου ποιεῖται, τὰ δὲ φαυλότερα περὶ πλείονος
I esteem it greatly to have heard what I did from Protagorasπολλοῦ ποιοῦμαι ἀκηκοέναι ἃ ἀκήκοα Πρωταγόρου
a. The genitive of cause is rarely used to express the thing bought or that for which pay is demanded:
you charge nobody anything for your teachingοὐδένα τῆς συνουσίᾱς ἀργύριον πρά̄ττει
three minae for a small chariotτρεῖς μναῖ διφρίσκου
In legal language τῑμᾶν τινι θανάτου is to fix the penalty at death (said of the jury, which is not interested in the result), τῑμᾶσθαί τινι θανάτου to propose death as the penalty (said of the accuser, who is interested), and τιμᾶσθαί τινος to propose a penalty against oneself (said of the accused). Cp.
the man proposes death as my penaltyτῑμᾶταί μοι ὁ ἀνὴρ θανάτου
GENITIVE OF CRIME AND ACCOUNTABILITY
With verbs of judicial action the genitive denotes the crime, the accusative denotes the person accused.
to accuse one another of what had happenedαἰτιᾶσθαι ἀλλήλους τοῦ γεγενημένου
I bring an accusation for defamation and at the same trial am prosecuted for murderδιώκω μὲν κακηγορίᾱς, τῇ δ᾽ αὐτῇ ψήφῳ φόνου φεύγω
Meletus prosecuted me for impietyἐμὲ ὁ Μέλητος ἀσεβείᾱς ἐγράψατο
they were tried for briberyδώρων ἐκρίθησαν
So with ἀμύ̄νεσθαι and κολάζειν punish, εἰσάγειν and προσκαλεῖσθαι summon into court, αἱρεῖν convict, τῑμωρεῖσθαι take vengeance on. With τῑμωρεῖν avenge and λαγχάνειν obtain leave to bring a suit, the person avenged and the person against whom the suit is brought are put in the dative. So with δικάζεσθαί τινί τινος to go to law with a man about something.
Verbs of judicial action may take a cognate accusative (δίκην, γραφήν), on which the genitive of the crime depends:
he will be brought to trial on an indictment for outrage and on a civil action for slanderγραφὴν ὕβρεως καὶ δίκην κακηγορίᾱς φεύξεται
ἁλίσκεσθαι (ἁλῶναι) be convicted, ὀφλισκάνειν lose a suit, φεύγειν be prosecuted are equivalent to passives:
if any one be condemned for theft . . . and if any one be convicted of desertionἐά̄ν τις ἁλῷ κλοπῆς . . . κἂ̄ν ἀστρατείᾱς τις ὄφλῃ
being tried for impiety on the indictment of Meletusἀσεβείᾱς φεύγοντα ὑπὸ Μελήτου
to be cast in a suitὠφληκέναι δίκην
all who had been convicted of embezzlement or briberyὁπόσοι κλοπῆς ἢ δώρων ὄφλοιεν
condemned by the truth to suffer the penalty of wickednessὑπὸ τῆς ἀληθείᾱς ὠφληκότες μοχθηρίᾱν
With verbs of judicial action the genitive of the penalty may be regarded as a genitive of value:
they judge in matters of life and deathθανάτου κρί̄νουσι
to impeach a man on a capital chargeὑπάγειν τινὰ θανάτου
a. With many verbs of judicial action περί is used.
GENITIVE OF CONNECTION
The genitive may express a more or less close connection or relation, where περί is sometimes added.
With verbs of saying or thinking: τί δὲ ἵππων οἴει; but what do you think of horses? P. R. 459b. Often in poetry:
but tell me about my fatherεἰπὲ δέ μοι πατρός
The genitive is often used loosely, especially at the beginning of a construction, to state the subject of a remark: ἵππος ἢν κακουργῇ, τὸν ἱππέᾱ κακίζομεν· τῆς δὲ γυναικός, εἰ κακοποιεῖ κτλ. if a horse is vicious, we lay the fault to the groom; but as regards a wife, if she conducts herself ill, etc. X. O. 3.11,
and so in the case of the other arts tooὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τεχνῶν
GENITIVE WITH COMPOUND VERBS
The genitive depends on the meaning of a compound verb as a whole (1) if the simple verb takes the genitive without a preposition, as ὑπείκειν withdraw, παραλύ̄ειν release, παραχωρεῖν surrender (1392), ἐφί̄εσθαι desire (1349); or (2) if the compound has acquired through the preposition a signification different from that of the simple verb with the preposition: thus
despairing of freedomἀπογνόντες τῆς ἐλευθερίᾱς
A verb compounded with a preposition taking the dative or accusative may take the genitive by analogy of another compound verb whose preposition requires the genitive: so
to set foot on the boundariesἐμβαίνειν ὅρων
Many verbs compounded with ἀπό, πρό, ὑπέρ, ἐπί, and κατά take the genitive when the compound may be resolved into the simple verb and the preposition without change in the sense:
dissuading the allies from their purposeτοὺς συμμάχους ἀποτρέψαντες τῆς γνώμης
they were despatched before the revoltπροαπεστάλησαν τῆς ἀποστάσεως
in many people the tongue outruns the thoughtπολλοῖς ἡ γλῶττα προτρέχει τῆς διανοίᾱς
the enemy are stationed above usὑπερκάθηνται ἡμῶν
to the first one setting foot on the wallτῷ ἐπιβάντι πρώτῳ τοῦ τείχους
a. This use is especially common with κατά against or at:
don't speak against meμή μου κατείπῃς
he spoke falsely against meκατεψεύσατό μου
he mouthed lies at meψευδῆ κατεγλώττιζέ μου
The verbs of accusing and condemning (cp. 1375) containing κατά in composition (καταγιγνώσκειν decide against, καταδικάζειν adjudge against, καταψηφίζεσθαι vote against, κατακρί̄νειν give sentence against) take a genitive of the person, and an accusative of the penalty. κατηγορεῖν accuse, καταγιγνώσκειν and καταψηφίζεσθαι take a genitive of the person, an accusative of the crime:
to pronounce me guilty of briberyκαταγνῶναι δωροδοκίᾱν ἐμοῦ
having condemned the fugitives to deathτῶν διαφυγόντων θάνατον καταγνόντες
our fathers passed sentence of death against many for favouring the Persiansπολλῶν οἱ πατέρες μηδισμοῦ θάνατον κατέγνωσαν
to accuse him of proposing unconstitutional measuresπαρανόμων αὐτοῦ κατηγορεῖν
men who have been condemned to deathἀνθρώπων καταψηφισθέντων θάνατον
In general, prose, as distinguished from poetry, repeats the preposition contained in the compound; but κατά is not repeated.
Passive.—θάνατος αὐτῶν κατεγνώσθη sentence of death was passed on them L. 13.39 (so
he was especially accused of favouring the Persiansκατηγορεῖτο αὐτοῦ οὐχ ἥκιστα μηδισμός
FREE USES OF THE GENITIVE
1388
Many verbs ordinarily construed with the accusative are also followed by a genitive of a person, apparently dependent on the verb but in reality governed by an accusative, generally a neuter pronoun or a dependent clause. Thus,
I admire this in himτάδ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἅγαμαι
I was astonished at one thing in themαὐτῶν ἓν ἐθαύμασα
the Athenians will not be satisfied with them in thisἈθηναῖοι σφῶν ταῦτα οὐκ ἀποδέξονται
contemplating how large a country they possessδιαθεώμενος αὐτῶν ὅσην χώρᾱν ἔχοιεν
he took note also how they asked each other questionsἐνενόησε δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ ὡς ἐπηρώτων ἀλλήλους
1389
From such constructions arose the use of the genitive in actual dependence on the verb without an accusative word or clause:
you admire himἄγασαι αὐτοῦ
I wonder at those who are willing to die in defence of their personal opinionsθαυμάζω τῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἰδίᾱς δόξης ἀποθνῄσκειν ἐθελόντων
1390
A form of the genitive of possession appears in poetry with verbal adjectives and passive participles to denote the personal origin of an action (cp. 1298):
taught of herκείνης διδακτά
informed by those in the houseἐκδιδαχθεὶς τῶν κατ᾽ οἶκον
struck by a daughterπληγεὶς θυγατρός
On the genitive absolute, see 2070.
THE ABLATIVAL GENITIVE WITH VERBS
1391
The same verb may govern both a true genitive and an ablatival genitive. So ἄρχεσθαι to begin (1348 a) and to start from, ἔχεσθαι to hold to (1345) and to keep oneself from. In many cases it is difficult to decide whether the genitive in question was originally the true genitive or the ablatival genitive, or whether the two have been combined; e.g. in κυνέη ῥῑνοῦ ποιητή a cap made of hide K 262,
he received a goblet from his wifeκύπελλον ἐδέξατο ἧς ἀλόχοιο
GENITIVE OF SEPARATION
With verbs signifying to cease, release, remove, restrain, give up, fail, be distant from, etc., the genitive denotes separation.
to cease from toilλήγειν τῶν πόνων
knowledge divorced from justiceἐπιστήμη χωριζομένη δικαιοσύνης
withdrawing from the alliance with the Atheniansμεταστὰ̄ς τῆς Ἀθηναίων ξυμμαχίᾱς
removing him from his office of generalπαύσαντες αὐτὸν τῆς στρατηγίᾱς
to be excluded from the forumεἴργεσθαι τῆς ἀγορᾶς
to save from evilσῶσαι κακοῦ
they prevented him from passingἐκώλῡον τῆς πορείᾱς αὐτόν
each skin will keep two men from sinkingπᾶς ἀσκὸς δύο ἄνδρας ἕξει τοῦ μὴ καταδῦναι
to end a speechλόγου τελευτᾶν
to surrender their freedom to Philipτῆς ἐλευθερίᾱς παραχωρῆσαι Φιλίππῳ
disappointed of their expectationsψευσθέντες τῶν ἐλπίδων
the island being not far distant from the mainlandἡ νῆσος οὐ πολὺ διέχουσα τῆς ἠπείρου
Several verbs of separation, such as ἐλευθεροῦν (especially with a personal subject), may take ἀπό or ἐξ when the local idea is prominent. Many take also the accusative.
The genitive, instead of the accusative (1628), may be used with verbs of depriving:
he deprives me of my propertyἀποστερεῖ με τῶν χρημάτων
taking away property from othersτῶν ἄλλων ἀφαιρούμενοι χρήματα
The genitive of the place whence is employed in poetry where a compound verb would be used in prose:
rise from the stepsβάθρων ἵστασθε
they rise from their seatsὑπανίστανται θά̄κων
raising from the groundχθονὸς ἀείρᾱς
The genitive with verbs signifying to want, lack, empty, etc. may be classed with the genitive of separation.
we shall not want provisionsτῶν ἐπιτηδείων οὐκ ἀπορήσομεν
you never lack praiseἐπαίνου οὔποτε σπανίζετε
to empty this city of its menἀνδρῶν τά̄νδε πόλιν κενῶσαι
δέω I lack (the personal construction) usually takes the genitive of quantity:
nothing of the sortπολλοῦ γε δέω
they were nearly at close quarters with the hoplitesμῑκροῦ ἔδεον ἐν χερσὶ τῶν ὁπλῑτῶν εἶναι
I am so far from admiringτοσούτου δέω ζηλοῦν
δέομαι I want, request may take the genitive, or the accusative (regularly of neuter pronouns and adjectives), of the thing wanted; and the genitive of the person: ἐρωτώμενος ὅτου δέοιτο, Ἀσκῶν, ἔφη, δισχῑλίων δεήσομαι being asked what he needed, he said ‘I shall have need of two thousand skins’ X. A. 3.5.9,
I ask this of youτοῦτο ὑ̄μῶν δέομαι
petitioning Cyrus about different mattersδεόμενοι Κύ̄ρου ἄλλης ἄλλης πρά̄ξεως
δεῖ (impersonal) is frequently used with genitives of quantity:
far from that being the caseπολλοῦ δεῖ οὕτως ἔχειν
they all but. took the cityὀλίγου εἷλον τὴν πόλιν
δεῖ μοί τινος means I have need of something. In place of the dative (1467) an accusative of the person is rarely allowed in poetry on the analogy of δεῖ with the infinitive (1985):
I have need of no great toilοὐ πόνου πολλοῦ με δεῖ
if the chorus need anythingεἴ τι δέοι τῷ χορῷ
GENITIVE OF DISTINCTION AND OF COMPARISON
The genitive is used with verbs of differing.
a good ruler differs in no respect from a good fatherἄρχων ἀγαθὸς οὐδὲν διαφέρει πατρὸς ἀγαθοῦ
With verbs signifying to surpass, be inferior to, the genitive denotes that with which anything is compared.
you had the advantage over them in honoursτῑμαῖς τούτων ἐπλεονεκτεῖτε
they were overpowered by the waterἡττῶντο τοῦ ὕδατος
to be too late for operationsὑστερεῖν τῶν ἔργων
inferior to usἡμῶν λειφθέντες
Many verbs compounded with πρό, περί, ὑπέρ denoting superiority take the genitive, which may depend on the preposition (1384):
you excelled him in speedτάχει περιεγένου αὐτοῦ
to excel the enemy in spiritγνώμῃ προέχειν τῶν ἐναντίων
GENITIVE OF CAUSE
With verbs of emotion the genitive denotes the cause. Such verbs are to wonder at, admire, envy, praise, blame. hate, pity, grieve for, be angry at, take vengeance on, and the like.
I wondered at the hardihood of the speakersἐθαύμασα τῆς τόλμης τῶν λεγόντων
admiring him for his mildnessτοῦτον ἀγασθεὶς τῆς πρᾳότητος
I share the joy at what has happenedσυγχαίρω τῶν γεγενημένων
to put up with the neglect of my household affairsἀνέχεσθαι τῶν οἰκείων ἀμελουμένων
it is right to praise the stranger for his zealτὸν ξένον δίκαιον αἰνέσαι προθῡμίᾱς
never wilt thou blame me for my tidingsοὔποτ᾽ ἀνδρὶ τῷδε κηρῡκευμάτων μέμψῃ
he pitied him for his miseryτοῦ πάθους ᾤκτῑρεν αὐτόν
nor is it reasonable to grieve about themοὐδ᾽ εἰκὸς χαλεπῶς φέρειν αὐτών
to take revenge on them for their attackτῑμωρήσασθαι αὐτοὺς τῆς ἐπιθέσεως
it is necessary to forgive them for their desireσυγγιγνώσκειν αὐτοῖς χρὴ τῆς ἐπιθῡμίᾱς
a. The genitive of cause is partly a true genitive, partly ablatival.
With the above verbs the person stands in the accusative or dative. Some of these verbs take the dative or ἐπί and the dative (e.g. ἀλγεῖν, στένειν, ἄχθεσθαι, φθονεῖν) to express the cause of the emotion. See the Lexicon.
The genitive of cause is used in exclamations and is often preceded by an interjection:
alas for the man!φεῦ τοῦ ἀνδρός
ah me, miserable!οἴμοι τάλαινα
Allied to the genitive of cause is the genitive of purpose in τοῦ with the infinitive (esp. with μή, 2032 e), and in expressions where ἕνεκα is usually employed, as
the whole fraud was contrived for the purpose of ruining the Phociansἡ πᾶσ᾽ ἀπάτη συνεσκευάσθη τοῦ περὶ Φωκέᾱς ὀλέθρου
Closely connected with the genitive of cause is the genitive with verbs of disputing:
we have no dispute with the king about his empireοὐ βασιλεῖ ἀντιποιούμεθα τῆς ἀρχῆς
he disputed the possession of the city with Erechtheusἠμφισβήτησεν Ἐρεχθεῖ τῆς πόλεως
they laid claim to the cityτῆς πόλεως ἀντεποιοῦντο
GENITIVE OF SOURCE
The genitive may denote the source.
wine was broached from the casksπίθων ἠφύσσετο οἶνος
of Darius and Parysatis are born two sonsΔᾱρείου καὶ Παρυσάτιδος γίγνονται παῖδες δύο
learn this also from meμάθε μου καὶ τάδε
With verbs of hearing from and the like the genitive is probably ablatival rather than partitive (1364):
from me you shall hear the whole truthἐμοῦ ἀκούσεσθε πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν
I learn from these men that the mountain is not impassableτούτων πυνθάνομαι ὅτι οὐκ ἄβατόν ἐστι τὸ ὄρος
such a tale I heard from some one who was presentτου παρόντος ἔκλυον
I desire to know of theeεἰδέναι δέ σου χρῄζω
a. Usually (except with πυνθάνεσθαι) we have παρά (ἀπό rarely), ἐξ or πρός (in poetry and Hdt.) with verbs of hearing from.
b. The genitive with εἶναι in
I am of a good fatherπατρὸς δ᾽ εἴμ᾽ ἀγαθοῖο
of such ancestors are youτοιούτων μέν ἐστε προγόνων
GENITIVE WITH ADJECTIVES
The genitive is used with many adjectives corresponding in derivation or meaning to verbs taking the genitive.
The adjective often borrows the construction with the genitive from that of the corresponding verb; but when the verb takes another case (especially the accusative), or when there is no verb corresponding to the adjective, the adjective may govern the genitive to express possession, connection more or less close, or by analogy. Many of the genitives in question may be classed as objective as well as partitive or ablatival. Rigid distinction between the undermentioned classes must not be insisted on.
Possession and Belonging (1297).—
love common to all menὁ ἔρως κοινὸς πάντων ἀνθρώπων
sacred to the same godἱερὸς τοῦ αὐτοῦ θεοῦ
the dangers belong to the commandersοἱ κίνδῡνοι τῶν ἐφεστηκότων ἴδιοι
Sharing (1343).—
partaking in wisdomσοφίᾱς μέτοχος
having an equal share in everythingἰσόμοιροι πάντων
having no part in wantonnessὕβρεως ἄμοιρος
Touching, Desiring, Attaining, Tasting (1345, 1350, 1355).—
not touching a spearἄψαυστος ἔγχους
gratitude for the objects of our zealχάρις ὧν πρόθῡμοι γεγενήμεθα
not tasting freedomἐλευθερίᾱς ἄγευστος
Connection.—
dependent on one anotherἀκόλουθα ἀλλήλων
what is akin to thisτὰ τούτων ἀδελφά
expositions agreeing with what had precededτῶν προειρημένων ἑπόμεναι ἀποδείξεις
light succeeding sleepφέγγος ὕπνου διάδοχον
Capacity and Fitness.—Adjectives in -ικός from active verbs, and some others:
the general must be able to provide what is needed in war and to supply provisions for his menπαρασκευαστικὸν τῶν εἰς τὸν πόλεμον τὸν στρατηγὸν εἶναι χρὴ καὶ ποριστικὸν τῶν ἐπιτηδείων τοῖς στρατιώταις
ripe for marriageγάμου ὡραίᾱ
Experience (1345).—
acquainted with the roadsὁδῶν ἔμπειρος
acquainted with the seaτῆς θαλάσσης ἐπιστήμων
unskilled in this businessτοῦ ἔργου
Remembering, Caring For (1356).—
mindful of crimeκακῶν μνήμονες
attentive to friendsἐπιμελὴς τῶν φίλων
forgiving of human errorsσυγγνώμων τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἁμαρτημάτων
Perception (1361).—Compounds in -ήκοος from ἀκούω:
hearers of noble wordsλόγων καλῶν ἐπήκοοι
subjects of the Thessaliansὑπήκοοι Θεσσαλῶν
obedient to parentsὑπήκοος τῶν γονέων
ignorant of cultureἀνήκοοι παιδείᾱς
Fulness (1369).—
the city was full of rejoicingχαρᾶς ἡ πόλις ἦν μεστή
a park full of wild beastsπαράδεισος ἀγρίων θηρίων πλήρης
richer in good senseπλουσιώτερος φρονήσεως
generous of good-willφιλόδωρος εὐμεϝείᾱς
greedy of moneyἄπληστος χρημάτων
Ruling (1370).—
master of this countryταύτης κύ̄ριος τῆς χώρᾱς
unrestrained in passionἀκρατὴς ὀργῆς
Value (1372).—
a rug worth ten minaeτάπις ἀξίᾱ δέκα μνῶν
reputation is not to be bought for moneyδόξα χρημάτων οὐκ ὠνητή
Accountability (1375).—
accountable for thisαἴτιος τούτων
liable to a charge of desertionἔνοχος λιποταξίου
subject to a trial for impietyἀσεβείᾱς ὑπόδικος
subject to tributeὑποτελὴς φόρου
responsible to you for thisτούτων ὑπεύθῡνος ὑ̄μῖν
Place.—ἐναντίος opposite and a few other adjectives denoting nearness or approach (1353) may take the genitive, chiefly in poetry: ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν they stood opposite the Achaeans P 343. Cp.
at an angle with the Pontusτοῦ Πόντου ἐπικάρσιαι
Separation (1392).—
deprived of good friendsφίλων ἀγαθῶν ἔρημοι
the soul separated from the bodyψῡχὴ ψῑλὴ σώματος
sparing of moneyφειδωλοὶ χρημάτων
clear of undergrowthὕ̄λης καθαρόν
never ceasing lamentationsἄπαυστος γόων
Compounds of alpha privative.—In addition to the adjectives with alpha privative which take the genitive by reason of the notion expressed in the verb, or by analogy, there are many others, some of which take the genitive because of the idea of separation, especially when the genitive is of kindred meaning and an attributive adjective is added for the purpose of more exact definition. Thus, ἄτῑμος deprived of, ἀπαθής not suffering, ἀτελής free from (1392): as
deprived of honourτῑμῆς ἄτῑμος
without male childrenἄπαις ἀρρένων παίδων
not seeing the most pleasant sightτοῦ ἡδίστου θεά̄ματος ἀθέᾱτος
without uttering this curseἄφωνος τῆσδε τῆς ἀρᾶς
a. So when the adjectives are passive:
unwept by friendsφίλων ἄκλαυτος
no one is hard for evil fortune to captureκακῶν δυσάλωτος οὐδείς
Want (1396).—
chariots deprived of their driversἅρματα κενὰ ἡνιόχων
lacking virtueἐνδεὴς ἀρετῆς
Distinction (1401).—
different from the restδιάφορος τῶν ἄλλων
pleasure is different from what is goodἕτερον τὸ ἡδὺ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ
at variance with justiceἄλλα τῶν δικαίων
Comparison (1402).—Adjectives of the comparative degree or implying comparison take the genitive. The genitive denotes the standard or point of departure from which the comparison is made, and often expresses a condensed comparison when actions are compared. Thus,
an ignorant man is inferior to a wise man, a coward to a brave manἤττων ἀμαθὴς σοφοῦ, δειλὸς ἀνδρείου
the beauty of the woman is too great for descriptionκρεῖττόν ἐστι λόγου τὸ κάλλος τῆς γυναικός
Epyaxa arrived five days before CyrusἘπύαξα προτέρᾱ Κύ̄ρου πέντε ἡμέραις ἀφί̄κετο
the reputation he acquired fell short of his expectationκαταδεεστέρᾱν τὴν δόξαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἔλαβεν
So with multiplicatives in -πλοῦς and -πλάσιος:
it returned double what it receivedδιπλάσια ἀπέδωκεν ὧν ἔλαβεν
The genitive with the comparative often takes the place of ἤ with another construction: ἀ̄θλιώτερόν ἐστι μὴ ὑγιοῦς σώματος ( = ἢ μὴ ὑγιεῖ σώματι)
it is more wretched to dwell with a diseased soul than a diseased bodyμὴ ὑγιεῖ ψῡχῇ συνοικεῖν
they came with more ships than the Atheniansπαρῆσαν
The superlative with the genitive is both partitive and ablatival; the latter, when a thing is compared with many things taken singly. Thus, σοφώτατος ἀνθρώπων P. A. 22c means wisest among men (part.) and wiser than any other single man. The partitive idea is the stronger. The comparative and the superlative idea are both expressed in ἀνὴρ ἐπιεικὴς υἱὸν ἀπολέσᾱς οἴσει ῥᾷστα τῶν ἄλλων a reasonable man will bear the loss of a son more easily than other men (and most easily of all men) P. R. 603e,
an expedition greater than any preceding itστρατείᾱ μεγίστη τῶν πρὸ αὐτῆς
the last among nationsτῶν ἄλλων ὕστατοι
Cause (1405).—
happy because of his dispositionεὐδαίμων τοῦ τρόπου
wretched because of thy lotδείλαιος τῆς συμφορᾶς
dates wonderful for their sizeβάλανοι θαυμάσιαι τοῦ μεγέθους
fearful of becoming an object of contemptπερίφοβος τοῦ καταφρονηθῆναι
Free Use.—a. Compound adjectives formed of a preposition and substantive may take a genitive dependent on the substantive:
under the shelter of the tentσκηνῆς ὕπαυλος
b. Some adjectives are freely used with the genitive in poetry, as
the marriage of Paris bringing ruin on his friendsλάμοι Πάριδος ὀλέθριοι φίλων
fire that protects against coldτὸ πῦρ ἐπίκουρον ψύ̄χους
the curse and destroyer of Greeceὁ τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἀλιτήριος
GENITIVE WITH ADVERBS
The genitive is used with adverbs derived from adjectives which take the genitive, and with adverbs akin to verbs followed by the genitive.
what comes after thisτὰ τούτου ἑξῆς
they are in love with gainἐρωτικῶς ἔχουσι τοῦ κερδαίνειν
straight for the Lyceumεὐθὺ Λυκείου
in the presence of allἐναντίον ἁπάντων
near Thebesπλησίον Θηβῶν
near the NileΝείλου πέλας
be too neglectful of one's parentsγονέων ἀμελέστερον ἔχειν
of all those acquainted with himἐκ πάντων τῶν ἐμπείρως αὐτοῦ ἐχόντων
to be inexperienced in nothingμηδενὸς ἀπείρως ἔχειν
in a manner worthy of a good manἀξίως ἀνδρὸς ἀγαθοῦ
in a manner appropriate to the doersπρεπόντως τῶν πρᾱξάντων
above the rest of menδιαφερόντως τῶν ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων
mourning for her brotherπενθικῶς ἔχουσα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ
An adverb with ἔχειν or διακεῖσθαι is often used as a periphrasis for an adjective with εἶναι or for a verb.
The genitive is used with many adverbs (a) of place, (b) of time, (c) of quantity.
a.
to make an attack at some point of their countryἐμβαλεῖν που τῆς ἐκείνων χώρᾱς
perceiving what a plight he was inαἰσθόμενος οὗ ἦν κακοῦ
to know where in the world he isεἰδέναι ὅπου γῆς ἐστιν
already far advanced in life, near deathπόρρω ἤδη τοῦ βίου, θανάτου δὲ ἐγγύς
on this side of Phaselisἐπὶ τάδε Φασήλιδος
north of Mt. Scombrusπρὸς βορέᾱν τοῦ Σκόμβρου
opposite Atticaἀπαντικρὺ τἠς Ἀττικῆς
b. πηνίκ᾽ ἐστὶν ἄρα τῆς ἡμέρᾱς; at what time of day? Ar. Av. 1498,
late in the dayτῆς ἡμέρᾱς ὀψέ
c.
enough of such mattersτῶν τοιούτων ἅδην
Most of the genitives in 1439 are partitive. Some of the adverbs falling under 1437 take also the dative (ἄγχι, ἐγγύς, πλησίον in the poets, ἑξῆς, ἐφεξῆς).
The genitive is used with adverbs of manner, especially with the intransitive ἔχω, ἥκω (Hdt.). The genitive usually has no article: ὡς τάχους ἕκαστος εἶχεν as fast as each could (with what measure of speed he had) X. H. 4.5.15,
as fast as my legs could carry meὡς ποδῶν εἶχον
being in their right mindsἔχοντες εὖ φρενῶν
to be in good bodily conditionεὖ σώματος ἕξειν
well offχρημάτων εὖ ἥκοντες
they thought that the city was well situated for the war and would prove useful for the march along Thraceτοῦ πολέμου καλῶς ἐδόκει ἡ πόλις καθίστασθαι . . . τῆς τε ἐπὶ Θρᾴκης παρόδου χρησίμως ἕξειν
This use is probably derived from that with adverbs of place: thus πῶς ἔχεις δόξης; in what state of mind are you? P. R. 456d is due to the analogy of ποῦ δόξης; (cp. ὅποι γνώμης S. El. 922).
The genitive is used with many adverbs denoting separation. Thus,
the soul will exist without the bodyἔσται ἡ ψῡχὴ χωρὶς τοῦ σώματος
separate from your forceδίχα τοῦ ὑ̄μετέρου πλήθους
far from the sourcesπρόσω τῶν πηγῶν
you will prevent one another from enjoying many blessingsἐμποδὼν ἀλλήλοις πολλῶν καὶ ἀγαθῶν ἔσεσθε
without the knowledge of the soldiersλάθρᾳ τῶν στρατιωτῶν
GENITIVE OF TIME AND PLACE
Time.—The genitive denotes the time within which, or at a certain point of which, an action takes place. As contrasted with the accusative of time (1582), the genitive denotes a portion of time. Hence the genitive of time is partitive. Cp. τὸν μὲν χειμῶνα ὕ̄ει ὁ θεός, τοῦ δὲ θέρεος χρηίσκονται τῷ ὕδατι during the (entire) winter the goo<*>rains, but in (a part of) summer they need the water Hdt. 3.117.
ἡμέρᾱς by day, νυκτός at or by night, μεσημβρίᾱς at midday, δείλης in the afternoon, ἑσπέρᾱς in the evening, θέρους in summer, χειμῶνος in winter, ἦρος in spring, ὀπώρᾱς in autumn, τοῦ λοιποῦ in the future. The addition of article or attributive usually defines the time more exactly. Thus, οὐκοῦν ἡδὺ μὲν θέρους ψῡχεινὴν ἔχειν, ἡδὺ δὲ χειμῶνος ἀλεεινήν; is it not pleasant to have (a house) cool in summer, and warm in winter? X. M. 3.8.9,
he departed during the nightᾤχετο τῆς νυκτός
The addition of the article may have a distributive sense:
he received a drachm a dayδραχμὴν ἐλάμβανε τῆς ἡμέρᾱς
The genitive may denote the time since an action has happened or the time until an action will happen:
for many years nobody has put a new question to meοὐδείς μέ πω ἠρώτηκε καινὸν οὐδὲν πολλῶν ἐτῶν
the king will not fight for ten daysβασιλεὺς οὐ μαχεῖται δέκα ἡμερῶν
The genitive may or may not denote a definite part of the time during which anything takes place; the dative fixes the time explicitly either by specifying a definite point in a given period or by contracting the whole period to a definite point; the accusative expresses the whole extent of time from beginning to end: cp.
on the next day the Athenians captured the suburb and laid waste the land for that entire day, while the three hundred Scionaeans departed in the course of the following nightτῇ δὲ ὑστεραίᾳ οἱ μὲν Ἀθηναῖοι τό τε προάστειον εἷλον καὶ τὴν ἡμέρᾱν ἅπᾱσαν ἐδῄουν τὴν γῆν, οἵ τε τριᾱκόσιοι τῶν Σκιωναίων τῆς ἐπιούσης νυκτὸς ἀπεχώρησαν
a. The genitive of time is less common than the dative of time (1539) with ordinals, or with ὅδε, οὗτος, ἐκεῖνος; as ταύτης τῆς νυκτός T. 6.97, P. Cr. 44a,
in the course of that monthἐκείνου τοῦ μηνός
Place.—The genitive denotes the place within which or at which an action happens. This is more frequent in poetry than in prose.
πεδίοιο διωκέμεν to chase over the plain E 222, ἷζεν τοίχου τοῦ ἑτέροιο he was sitting by the other wall (lit. in a place of the wall) I 219, λελουμένος Ὠκεανοῖο having bathed in Oceanus E 6,
neither in sacred Pylos nor in Argos nor in Mycenaeοὔτε Πύλου ἱερῆς οὔτ᾽ Ἄργεος οὔτε Μυκήνης
thou didst admit this man within the wallsτόνδ᾽ εἰσεδέξω τειχέων
to go forwardἰέναι τοῦ πρόσω
they hastened on their way those who came up more slowlyἐπετάχῡνον τῆς ὁδοῦ τοὺς σχολαίτερον προσιόντας
they dwell on the left handλαιᾶς χειρὸς οἰκοῦσι
Many adverbs of place are genitives in form (αὐτοῦ there, ποῦ where? οὐδαμοῦ nowhere). Cp. 341.
DATIVE
1450
The Greek dative does duty for three cases: the dative proper, and two lost cases, the instrumental and the locative.
a. The dative derives its name (ἡ δοτικὴ πτῶσις, casus dativus) from the use with διδόναι (1469).
1451
The dative is a necessary complement of a verb when the information given by the verb is incomplete without the addition of the idea expressed by the dative. Thus, πείθεται he obeys, calls for the addition of an idea to complete the sense, as τοῖς νόμοις the laws.
1452
The dative as a voluntary complement of a verb adds something unessential to the completion of an idea. Thus, αὐτοῖς οἱ βάρβαροι ἀπῆλθον the barbarians departed—for them (to their advantage). Here belongs the dative of interest, 1474 ff.
1453
But the boundary line between the necessary and the voluntary complement is not always clearly marked. When the idea of the action, not the object of the action, is emphatic, a verb, usually requiring a dative to complete its meaning, may be used alone, as πείθεται he is obedient.
1454
With many intransitive verbs the dative is the sole complement. With transitive verbs it is the indirect complement (dative of the indirect or remoter object, usually a person); that is, it further defines the meaning of a verb already defined in part by the accusative.
1455
Many verbs so vary in meaning that they may take the dative either alone or along with the accusative (sometimes the genitive). No rules can be given, and English usage is not always the same as Greek usage.
1456
The voice often determines the construction. Thus, πείθειν τινά to persuade some one, πείθεσθαί τινι to persuade oneself for some one (obey some one), <*>λεύειν τινὰ ταῦτα ποιεῖν to order some one to do this, παρακελεύεσθαί τινι ταῦτα τοιεῖν to exhort some one to do this.
DATIVE PROPER
1457
The dative proper denotes that to or for which something is or is done.
1458
It is either (1) used with single words (verbs, adjectives, and sometimes with adverbs and substantives) or (2) it serves to define an entire sentence; herein unlike the genitive and accusative, which usually modify single members <*> a sentence. The connection between dative and verb is less intimate than that between genitive or accusative and verb.
1459
The dative proper is largely personal, and denotes the person who is interested in or affected by the action; and includes 1461-1473 as well as 1474 ff. The dative proper is not often used with things; when so used there is usually personification or semi-personification.
THE DATIVE DEPENDENT ON A SINGLE WORD
DATIVE AS DIRECT COMPLEMENT OF VERBS
The dative may be used as the sole complement of many verbs that are usually transitive in English. Such are
(I) To benefit, help, injure, please, displease, be friendly or hostile, blame, be angry, threaten, envy.
to help the wrongedβοηθεῖν τοῖσιν ἠδικημένοις
he would not now be troubling usοὐκ ἂν ἠνώχλει νῦν ἡμῖν
if we are pleasing to the majority, it would not be right if we should displease them aloneεἰ τοῖς πλέοτιν ἀρέσκοντές ἐσμεν, τοῖσδ᾽ ἂν μόνοις οὐκ ὀρθῶς ἀπαρέσκοιμεν
to be friendly to the ill-intentionedεὐνοεῖν τοῖς κακόνοις
they are angry at meἐμοὶ ὀργίζονται
they threatened Theramenesτῷ Θηρᾱμένει ἠπείλουν
not cherishing envy against the richοὐ φθονῶν τοῖς πλουτοῦσιν
Some verbs of benefiting and injuring take the accusative (ὠφελεῖν, βλάπτειν, 1591 a); μῑσεῖν τινα hate some one. λῡσιτελεῖν, συμφέρειν be of advantage take the dative.
(II) To meet, approach, yield.
but when the generals met themἐπεὶ δὲ ἀπήντησαν αὐτοῖς οἱ στρατηγοί
he meets Philocratesπεριτυγχάνει Φιλοκράτει
what wild beasts one must not approachποίοις οὐ χρὴ θηρίοις πελάζειν
(III) To obey, serve, pardon, trust, advise, command, etc.
obey the lawsτοῖς νόμοις πείθου
to be subservient to your interestsτῷ ὑ̄μετέρῳ ξυμφόρῳ ὑπακούειν
if you are the slave of no pleasureἂ̄ν μηδεμιᾷ δουλεύῃς τῶν ἡδονῶν
the cities trusted himἐπίστευον αὐτῷ αἱ πόλεις
he ordered the Mysian to fleeτῷ Μῡσῷ ἐσήμηνε φεύγειν
he shouted to Clearchus to leadτῷ Κλεάρχῳ ἐβόᾱ ἄγειν
κελεύειν command (strictly impel) may be followed in Attic by the accusative and (usually) the infinitive; in Hom. by the dative either alone or with the infinitive. Many verbs of commanding (παραγγέλλειν, διακελεύεσθαι) take in Attic the accusative, not the dative, when used with the infinitive (1996 N.). ὑπακούειν (and ἀκούειν = obey) may take the genitive (1366).
(IV) To be like or unlike, compare, befit.
to be like such menἐοικέναι τοῖς τοιούτοις
The dative of the person and the genitive of the thing are used with the impersonals δεῖ (1400), μέτεστι, μέλει, μεταμέλει, προσήκει. Thus,
a tyrant needs mercenariesμισθοφόρων ἀνδρὶ τυράννῳ δεῖ
inasmuch as they had nothing to do with Epidamnusὡς οὐ μετὸν αὐτοῖς Ἐπιδάμνου
he did not repent of his acts of violenceοὐχ ὧν ἐβιά̄σατο μετέμελεν αὐτῷ
he has nothing to do with Boeotiaτούτῳ τῆς Βοιωτίᾱς προσήκει οὐδέν
a. For δοκεῖ μοι it seems to me (mihi videtur), δοκῶ μοι (mihi videor) may be used. b. For other cases of the dative as direct complement see 1476, 1481.
An intransitive verb taking the dative can form a personal passive, the dative becoming the nominative subject of the passive. Cp. 1745.
DATIVE AS INDIRECT COMPLEMENT OF VERBS
Many verbs take the dative as the indirect object together with an accusative as the direct object. The indirect object is commonly introduced in English by to.
Cyrus gives him pay for six monthsΚῦρος δίδωσιν αὐτῷ ἓξ μηνῶν μισθόν
he presented a horse to the Hyrcanianτῷ Ὑρκανίῳ ἵππον ἐδωρήσατο
to distribute the rest to the generalsτὰ δὲ ἄλλα διανεῖμαι τοῖς στρατηγοῖς
to compare a small thing to a great thingμῑκρὸν μεγάλῳ εἰκάσαι
sending a messenger to himπέμπων αὐτῷ ἄγγελον
I lay this charge upon theeτοῦτο σοὶ δ᾽ ἐφί̄εμαι
he advised the Athenians as followsπαρῄνει τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις τοιάδε
to entrust this command to meἐμοὶ ἐπιτρέψαι ταύτην τὴν ἀρχήν
Passive.—The accusative of the active becomes the subject of the passive, the dative remains:
this land was given to himἐκείνῳ αὕτη ἡ χώρᾱ ἐδόθη
DATIVE AS DIRECT OR INDIRECT COMPLEMENT OF VERBS
Many verbs may take the dative either alone or with the accusative.
I find fault with no oneοὐδενὶ μέμφομαι
I am a servant of the godsὑπηρετῶ τοῖς θεοῖς
he serves Eros in everythingἜρωτι πᾶν ὑπηρετεῖ
they exhort those who are striving for victoryπαρακελεύονται τοῖς περὶ νί̄κης ἁμιλλωμένοις
I address this exhortation to the hoplitesταῦτα τοῖς ὁπλί̄ταις παρακελεύομαι
you reproach the guiltyὀνειδίζετε τοῖς ἀδικοῦσιν
they upbraid the Thebans with their ignoranceΘηβαίοις τὴν ἀμαθίᾱν ὀνειδίζουσι
having prayed to the godsθεοῖς εὐξάμενοι
having prayed to the gods for successεὐξάμενοι τοῖς θεοῖς τἀ̄γαθά
τῑμωρεῖν (poet. τῑμωρεῖσθαί) τινι means to avenge some one (take vengeance for some one), as τῑμωρήσειν σοι τοῦ παιδὸς ὑπισχνοῦμαι I promise to avenge you because of (on the murderer of) your son X. C. 4.6.8, εἰ τῑμωρήσεις
if you avenge the murder of PatroclusΠατρόκλῳ τὸν φόνον
For the dative of purpose (to what end?), common in Latin with a second dative (dono dare), Greek uses a predicate noun:
the country was given to him as a giftἐκείνῳ ἡ χώρᾱ δῶρον ἐδόθη
nails for the doorsἧλοι ταῖς θύραις
a. The infinitive was originally, at least in part, a dative of an abstract substantive, and served to mark purpose: τίς τ᾽ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι; who then of the gods brought the twain together (for) to contend in strife? A 8. Cp. “what went ye out for to see?” St. Matth. 11. 8.
DATIVE AS A MODIFIER OF THE SENTENCE
DATIVE OF INTEREST
The person for whom something is or is done, or in reference to whose case an action is viewed, is put in the dative.
a. Many of the verbs in 1461 ff. take a dative of interest. 1476 ff. are special cases.
After verbs of motion the dative (usually personal) is used, especially in poetry:
reaching out their hands to meχεῖρας ἐμοὶ ὀρέγοντας
putting in at RhegiumΠ̔ηγίῳ
Dative of the Possessor.—The person for whom a thing exists is put in the dative with εἶναι, γίγνεσθαι, ὑπάρχειν, φῦναι (poet.), etc., when he is regarded as interested in its possession.
others have riches, we have good alliesἄλλοις μὲν χρήματά ἐστι, ἡμῖν δὲ ξύμμαχοι ἀγαθοί
gifts are bestowed upon the just man by the godsτῷ δικαίῳ παρὰ θεῶν δῶρα γίγνεται
we have no supply of provisionsὑπάρχει ἡμῖν οὐδὲν τῶν ἐπιτηδείων
death is the natural lot of all menπᾶσι θνᾱτοῖς ἔφῡ μόρος
So with verbs of thinking and perceiving: τὸν ἀγαθὸν ἄρχοντα βλέποντα νόμον ἀνθρώποις ἐνόμισεν Cyrus considered that a good ruler was a living law to man X. C. 8.1.22,
the enemy are most courageous when they learn that the forces opposed to them are in troubleθαρροῦσι μάλιστα πολέμιοι, ὅταν τοῖς ἐναντίοις πρά̄γματα πυνθάνωνται
In the phrase ὄνομά (ἐστί) τινι the name is put in the same case as ὄνομα. Thus,
I thought I heard his name was Agathonἔδοξα ἀκοῦσαι ὄνομα αὐτῷ εἶναι Ἀγάθωνα
Here belong the phrases (1) τί (ἐστιν) ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί; what have I to do with thee?; cp. τί τῷ νόμῳ καὶ τῇ βασάνῳ; what have the law and torture in common? D. 29.36. (2) τί ταῦτ᾽ ἐμοί; what have I to do with this? D. 54.17. (3) τί ἐμοὶ πλέον; what gain have I? X. C. 5.5.34.
The dative of the possessor denotes that something is at the disposal of a person or has fallen to his share temporarily. The genitive of possession lays stress on the person who owns something. The dative answers the question what is it that he has?, the genitive answers the question who is it that has something? The uses of the two cases are often parallel, but not interchangeable. Thus, in Κῦρος, οὗ σὺ ἔσει τὸ ἀπὸ τοῦδε Cyrus, to whom you will henceforth belong X. C. 5.1.6, ᾧ would be inappropriate. With a noun in the genitive the dative of the possessor is used (τῶν ἑκατέροις ξυμμάχων T. 2.1); with a noun in the dative, the genitive of the possessor (τοῖς ἑαυτῶν ξυμμάχοις 1. 18).
Dative of Advantage or Disadvantage (dativus commodi et incommodi).—The person or thing for whose advantage or disadvantage, anything is or is done, is put in the dative. The dative often has to be translated as if the possessive genitive were used; but the meaning is different.
ἐπειδὴ αὐτοῖς οἱ βάρβαροι ἐκ τῆς χώρᾱς ἀπῆλθον after the barbarians had departed (for them, to their advantage) from their country T. 1.89,
another army was being raised for himἄλλο στράτευμα αὐτῷ συνελέγετο
such a man is rich for another, and not for himselfἄλλῳ ὁ τοιοῦτος πλουτεῖ, καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ
to be crowned in honour of the godστεφανοῦσθαι τῷ θεῷ
Philistides was working in the interest of PhilipΦιλιστίδης ἔπρᾱττε Φιλίππῳ
if any of your slaves runs awayἄ̄ν τίς σοι τῶν οἰκετῶν ἀποδρᾷ
a. For the middle denoting to do something for oneself, see 1719.
b. In the last example in 1481, as elsewhere, the dative of a personal pronoun is used where a possessive pronoun would explicitly denote the owner.
A dative, dependent on the sentence, may appear to depend on a substantive:
to you I will give a husband for your daughterσοὶ δὲ δώσω ἄνδρα τῇ θυγατρί
With verbs of depriving, warding off, and the like, the dative of the person may be used: τὸ συστρατεύειν ἀφελεῖν σφίσιν ἐδεήθησαν they asked him to relieve them (lit. take away for them) from serving in the war X. C. 7.1.44, Δαναοῖσιν λοιγὸν ἄμῡνον ward off ruin from (for) the Danai A 456. So ἀλέξειν τινί τι (poet.). Cp. 1392, 1628.
With verbs of receiving and buying, the person who gives or sells may stand in the dative. In δέχεσθαί τί τινι (chiefly poetic) the dative denotes the interest of the recipient in the donor: Θέμιστι δέκτο δέπας she took the cup from (for, i.e. to please) Themis O 87. So with πόσου πρίωμαί σοι τὰ χοιρίδια; at what price am I to buy the pigs of you? Ar. Ach. 812.
With verbs of motion the dative of the person to whom is properly a dative of advantage or disadvantage: ἦλθε τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἡ ἀγγελίᾱ the message came to (for) the Athenians T. 1.61. Cp. 1475.
Dative of Feeling (Ethical Dative).—The personal pro nouns of the first and second person are often used to denote the interest of the speaker, or to secure the interest of the person spoken to, in an action or statement.
pray remember not to make a disturbanceμέμνησθέ μοι μὴ θορυβεῖν
your young men will grow less cultivatedἀμουσότεροι γενήσονται ὑ̄μῖν οἱ νέοι
such a thing, you know, is despotismτοιοῦτο ὑ̄μῖν ἐστι ἡ τυραννίς
oh mother, how handsome grandpa isὦ μῆτερ, ὡς καλός μοι ὁ πάππος
a. This dative in the third person is very rare (αὐτῇ in P. R. 343a).
b. This construction reproduces the familiar style of conversation and may often be translated by I beg you, please, you see, let me tell you, etc. Sometimes the idea cannot be given in translation. This dative is a form of 1481.
ἐμοὶ βουλομένῳ ἐστί , etc.—Instead of a sentence with a finite verb, a participle usually denoting inclination or aversion is added to the dative of the person interested, which depends on a form of εἶναι, γ<*>γνεσθαι, etc.
τῷ πλήθει τῶν Πλαταιῶν οὐ βουλομένῳ ἦν τῶν Ἀθηναίων ἀφίστασθαι the Plataean democracy did not wish to revolt from the Athenians (= τὸ πλῆθος οὐκ ἐβούλετο ἀφίστασθαι) T. 2.3 (lit. it was not for them when wishing), ἂ̄ν βουλομένοις ἀκούειν ᾖ τουτοισί̄, μνησθήσομαι if these men (the jury) desire to hear it, I shall take the matter up later (= ἂ̄ν οὗτοι ἀκούειν βούλωνται) D. 18.11,
let us go back if it is your pleasure to do soἐπανέλθωμεν, εἴ σοι ἡδομένῳ ἐστίν
if I have come against your willεἰ μὴ ἀσμένοις ὑ̄μῖν ἀφῖγμαι
this was not displeasing to Agesilausἦν δὲ οὐ τῷ Ἀ̄γησιλά̄ῳ ἀχθομένῳ
Dative of the Agent.—With passive verbs (usually in the perfect and pluperfect) and regularly with verbal adjectives in -τός and -τέος, the person in whose interest an action is done, is put in the dative. The notion of agency does not belong to the dative, but it is a natural inference that the person interested is the agent.
ἐμοὶ καὶ τούτοις πέπρᾱκται has been done by (for) me and these men D. 19.205,
when they had got their preparations readyἐπειδὴ αὐτοῖς παρεσκεύαστο
let so much have been said by meτοσαῦτά μοι εἰρήσθω
let it have been decreed by the senateἐψηφίσθαι τῇ βουλῇ
a. With verbal adjectives in -τός and -τέος (2149):
envied by those at homeτοῖς οἴκοι ζηλωτός
we at least must struggle to defend our freedomἡμῖν γ᾽ ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐλευθερίᾱς ἀγωνιστέον
The usual restriction of the dative to tenses of completed action seems to be due to the fact that the agent is represented as placed in the position of viewing an already completed action in the light of its relation to himself (interest, advantage, possession).
The dative of the agent is rarely employed with other tenses than perfect and pluperfect:
is said by usλέγεται ἡμῖν
The person by whom (not for whom) an action is explicitly said to be done, is put in the genitive with ὑπό (1698. 1. b).
The dative of the personal agent is used (1) when the subject is impersonal, the verb being transitive or intransitive, (2) when the subject is persal and the person is treated as a thing in order to express scorn (twice only in the orators: D. 19.247, 57. 10).
ὑπό with the genitive of the personal agent is used (1) when the subject is a person, a city, a country, or is otherwise quasi-personal, (2) when the verb is intransitive even if the subject is a thing, as
the walls having been destroyed by the barbariansτῶν τειχῶν ὑπὸ τῶν βαρβάρων πεπτωκότων
that she was an hetaera has been testified by the rest of his relatives and by his neighboursὡς ἑταίρᾱ ἦν . . . ὑπὸ τῶν ἄλλων οἰκείων καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν γειτόνων μεμαρτύρηται
a. νῑκᾶσθαι, ἡττᾶσθαι to be conquered may be followed by the dative of a person, by ὑπό τινος, or by the genitive (1402).
When the agent is a thing, not a person, the dative is commonly used whether the subject is personal or impersonal. If the subject is personal, ὑπό may be used; in which case the inanimate agent is personified (see 1698. 1. N. 1). ὑπό is rarely used when the subject is impersonal. ὑπό is never used with the impersonal perfect passive of an intransitive verb.
DATIVE OF RELATION
The dative may be used of a person to whose case the statement of the predicate is limited.
it is safer for them to flee than for usφευγειν αὐτοῖς ἀσφαλέστερόν ἐστιν ἢ ἡμῖν
the soldiers began to runδρόμος ἐγένετο τοῖς στρατιώταις
a. ὡς restrictive is often added: μακρὰ̄ ὡς γέροντι ὁδός a long road (at least) for an old man S. O. C. 20, σωφροσύνης δὲ ὡς πλήθει οὐ τὰ τοιάδε μέγιστα; for the mass of men are not the chief points of temperance such as these? P. R. 389d.
Dative of Reference.—The dative of a noun or pronoun often denotes the person in whose opinion a statement holds good.
Darius contracted marriages most distinguished in the eyes of the Persiansγάμους τοὺς πρώτους ἐγάμει Πέρσῃσι ὁ Δᾱρεῖος
to be victorious in the judgment of all the judgesπᾶσι νῑκᾶν τοῖς κριταῖς
pitiful in the eyes of manyπολλοῖσιν οἰκτρός
in the opinion of Dariusκριτῇ
The dative participle, without a noun or pronoun, is frequently used in the singular or plural to denote indefinitely the person judging or observing. This construction is most common with participles of verbs of coming or going and with participles of verbs of considering.
Thrace is on the right as you sail into the Pontusἡ Θρᾴκη ἐστὶν ἐπὶ δεξιὰ εἰς τὸν Πόντον εἰσπλέοντι
if you touched the surface the body was not very hotτὸ μὲν ἔξωθεν ἁπτομένῳ σῶμα οὐκ ἄγᾱν θερμὸν ἦν
if you look at the matter from the point of view of advantage, the panegyrist of justice speaks the truthπρο`ς ὠφέλειαν σκοπουμένῳ ὁ ἐπαινέτης τοῦ δικαίου ἀληθεύει
a. The participle of verbs of coming or going is commonly used in statements of geographical situation.
b. The present participle is more common than the aorist in the case of all verbs belonging under 1497.
Dative of the Participle expressing Time.—In expressions of time a participle is often used with the dative of the person interested in the action of the subject, and especially to express the time that has passed since an action has occurred (cp. “and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren” St. Luke i. 36).
Prometheus comes to him in his perplexityἀποροῦντι δ᾽ αὐτῷ ἔρχεται Προμηθεύς
while Xenophon was on the march, his horsemen fell in with some old menΞενοφῶντι πορευομένῳ οἱ ἱππεῖς ἐντυγχάνουσι πρεσβύ̄ταις
a. A temporal clause may take the place of the participle:
it is already fifty-two years since the expedition sailed to Sicilyτῇ στρατιᾷ, ἀφ᾽ οὗ ἐξέπλευσεν εἰς Σικελίᾱν, ἤδη ἐστὶ δύο καὶ πεντήκοντα ἔτη
DATIVE WITH ADJECTIVES, ETC.
Adjectives, adverbs, and substantives, of kindred meaning with the foregoing verbs, take the dative to define their meaning.
friendly to the kingβασιλεῖ φίλοι
well disposed to the peopleεὔνους τῷ δήμῳ
subject to the lawsτοῖς ϝόμοις ἔνοχος
relying on the allianceξυμμαχίᾳ πίσυνοι
plans like the deedsἀδελφὰ τὰ βουλεύματα τοῖς ἔργοις
in a way unlike to each otherἀλλήλοις ἀνομοίως
a. Some adjectives, as φίλος, ἐχθρός, may be treated as substantives and take the genitive. Some adjectives often differ slightly in meaning when they take the genitive.
With ὁ αὐτός the same.—
to be of the same mind as I amτὴν αὐτὴν γνώμην ἐμοὶ ἔχειν
of the same father as I amτοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐμοὶ πατρός
With adjectives and adverbs of similarity and dissimilarity the comparison is often condensed (brachylogy) : ὁμοίᾱν ταῖς δούλαις εἶχε τὴν ἐσθῆτα she had a dress on like (that of) her servants X. C. 5.1.4 (the possessor for the thing possessed, = τῇ ἐσθῆτι τῶν δουλῶν), Ὀρφεῖ γλῶσσα ἡ ἐναντίᾱ a tongue unlike (that of) Orpheus A. Ag. 1629.
a. After adjectives and adverbs of likeness we also find καί, ὅσπερ (ὥσπερ). Thus,
to suffer the same as you have often suffered beforeπαθεῖν ταὐτὸν ὅπερ πολλάκις πρότερον πεπόνθατε
The dative after substantives is chiefly used when the substantive expresses the act denoted by the kindred verb requiring the dative:
a plot against meἐπιβουλὴ ἐμοί
my service to the godἡ ἐμὴ τῷ θεῷ ὑπηρεσίᾱ
friendship for the Atheniansφιλίᾱ τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις
hymns to the godsὕμνοι θεοῖς
supplies for the troopsἐφόδια τοῖς στρατευομένοις
a. Both a genitive and a dative may depend on the same substantive:
the god's gift to youἡ τοῦ θεοῦ δόσις ὑ̄μῖν
INSTRUMENTAL DATIVE
The Greek dative, as the representative of the lost instrumental case, denotes that by which or with which an action is done or accompanied. It is of two kinds: (1) The instrumental dative proper; (2) The comitative dative.
When the idea denoted by the noun in the dative is the instrument or means, it falls under (1); if it is a person (not regarded as the instrument or means) or any other living being, or a thing regarded as a person, it belongs under (2); if an action, under (2).
Abstract substantives with or without an attributive often stand in the instrumental dative instead of the cognate accusative (1577).
INSTRUMENTAL DATIVE PROPER
The dative denotes instrument or means, manner, and cause.
Instrument or Means.—
he hit me with stonesἔβαλλέ με λίθοις
he accomplished nothing by thisοὐδὲν ἤνυε τούτοις
built of bricksᾠκοδομημένον πλίνθοις
a. The instrumental dative is often akin to the comitative dative:
wandering with his ship and companionsἀλώμενος νηί τε καὶ ἑτάροισι
they shall go with their shipsνηυσὶν οἰχήσονται
they fought with passionate violence and brute force rather than by a system of tacticsθῡμῷ καὶ ῥώμῃ τὸ πλέον ἐναυμα´χουν ἢ ἐπιστήμῃ
b. Persons may be regarded as instruments:
defending themselves by picketsφυλαττόμενοι φύλαξι
c. Verbs of raining or snowing take the dative or accusative (1570 a).
Under Means fall:
a. The dative of price (cp. 1372):
they freed themselves from the danger at the price of a part of their unjust gainsμέρει τῶν ἀδικημάτων τὸν κίνδῡνον ἐξεπρίαντο
b. Rarely, the dative with verbs of filling (cp. 1369):
the entire army being filled with tearsδάκρυσι πᾶν τὸ στράτευμα πλησθέν
c. The dative of material and constituent parts:
he made chariots with strong wheelsκατεσκευάσατο ἅρματα τροχοῖς ἰσχῡροῖς
χρῆσθαι use (strictly employ oneself with, get something done with; cp. uti), and sometimes νομίζειν, take the dative. Thus, οὔτε τούτοις (τοῖς νομίμοις)
neither acts according to these institutions nor observes those accepted by the rest of Greeceχρῆται οὔθ᾽ οἷς ἡ ἄλλη Ἑλλὰς νομίζει
they make use of them as a body-guardτούτοις χρῶνται δορυφόροις
The instrumental dative occurs after substantives:
imitation by means of gesturesμί̄μησις σχήμασι
The instrumental dative of means is often, especially in poetry, reinforced by the prepositions ἐν, σύν, ὑπό:
to persuade by wordsἐν λόγοις πείθειν
the gods have shown by the victimsοἱ θεοὶ ἐν τοῖς ἱεροῖς ἐσήμηναν
heavy with old ageσὺν γήρᾳ βαρεῖς
Dative of Standard of Judgment.—That by which anything is measured, or judged, is put in the dative: ξυνεμετρήσαντο ταῖς ἐπιβολαῖς τῶν πλίνθων they measured the ladders by the layers of bricks. T. 3.20,
it was plain from what followedτῷδε δῆλον ἦν
we must judge by what he has done to the restοἷς πρὸς τοὺς ἄλλους πεποίηκε δεῖ τεκμαίρεσθαι
Manner (see also 1527).—The dative of manner is used with comparative adjectives and other expressions of comparison to mark the degree by which one thing differs from another (Dative of Measure of Difference).
κεφαλῇ ἐλά̄ττων a head shorter (lit. by the head) P. Ph. 101a,
he arrived not many days laterοὐ πολλαῖς ἡμέραις ὕστερον ἦλθεν
coming ten days before the Panathenaic festivalἰόντες δέκα ἡμέραις πρὸ Παναθηναίων
the more I possess the more pleasant is my lifeτοσούτῳ ἥδῑον ζῶ ὅσῳ πλείω κέκτημαι
the shouting became much louder as the men increased in numberπολλῷ μείζων ἐγίγνετο ἡ βοὴ ὅσῳ δὴ πλείους ἐγίγνοντο
a. With the superlative:
by far the bestμακρῷ ἄριστα
With comparatives the accusatives (1586) τί, τὶ, οὐδέν, μηδέν without a substantive are always used:
nihilo minusοὐδὲν ἧττον
Measure of difference may be expressed by ἔν τινι; εἴς τι, κατά τι; or by ἐπί τινι.
The dative of manner may denote the particular point of view from which a statement is made. This occurs chiefly with intransitive adjectives but also with intransitive verbs (Dative of Respect). (Cp. 1600.)
a man still young in yearsἀνὴρ ἡλικίᾳ ἔτι νέος
weak in bodyἀσθενὴς τῷ σώματι
harsh of voiceτῇ φωνῇ τρᾱχύς
distinguished in understandingφρονήσει διαφέρων
superior in power to the men of that timeτῶν τότε δυνάμει προύχων
a. The accusative of respect (1600) is often nearly equivalent to the dative of respect.
Cause.—The dative, especially with verbs of emotion, expresses the occasion (external cause) or the motive (internal cause).
Occasion:
confident by reason of his good fortuneτῇ τύχῃ ἐλπίσᾱς
he was pleased at thisτούτοις ἥσθη
following out of friendship and good willφιλίᾳ καὶ εὐνοίᾳ ἑπόμενοι
doing this out of insolence and not because he was drunkὕβρει καὶ οὐκ οἴνῳ τοῦτο ποιῶν
Some verbs of emotion take ἐπί (with dat.) to denote the cause; so always μέγα φρονεῖν to plume oneself, and often χαίρειν rejoice, λῡπεῖσθαι grieve, ἀγανακτεῖν be vexed, αἰσχύ̄νεσθαι be ashamed. Many verbs take the genitive (1405).
The dative of cause sometimes approximates to a dative of purpose (1473): Ἀθηναῖοι ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς ὥρμηνται Λεοντί̄νων κατοικίσει the Athenians have set out against us (with a view to) to restore the Leontines T. 6.33. This construction is common with other verbal nouns in Thucydides.
Cause is often expressed by διά with the accusative, ὑπό with the genitive, less frequently by ἀμφί or περί with the dative (poet.) or ὑπέρ with the genitive (poet.).
COMITATIVE DATIVE
The comitative form of the instrumental dative denotes the persons or things which accompany or take part in an action.
Prepositions of accompaniment (μετά with gen., σύν) are often used, especially when the verb does not denote accompaniment or union.
Dative of Association.—The dative is used with words denoting friendly or hostile association or intercourse. This dative is especially common in the plural and after middle verbs.
a.
if thou associate with the evil, in the end thou too wilt become evil thyselfκακοῖς ὁμῑλῶν καὐτὸς ἐκβήσῃ κακός
we have conversed with each otherἀλλήλοις διειλέγμεθα
communicating to the people what had been saidτῷ πλήθει τὰ ῥηθέντα κοινώσαντες
to have an interview with youεἰς λόγους σοι ἐλθεῖν
we have participated in your festivalsμετεσχήκαμεν ὑ̄μῖν θυσιῶν
to enter into friendship with themαὐτοῖς διὰ φιλίᾱς ἰέναι
b.
few fighting with manyπολλοῖς ὀλίγοι μαχόμενοι
they bring lawsuits against one anotherδίκᾱς ἀλλήλοις δικάζονται
to be at variance with these menδιαφέρεσθαι τούτοις
he said their words did not agree with their deedsοὐκ ἔφη τοὺς λόγους τοῖς ἔργοις ὁμολογεῖν
N. 1.—πολεμεῖν (μάχεσθαι) σύν τινι (μετά τινος) means to wage war in conjunction with some one.
N. 2.—Verbs of friendly or hostile association, and especially periphrases with ποιεῖσθαι (πόλεμον, σπονδά̄ς), often take the accusative with πρός.
Dative of Accompaniment.—The dative of accompaniment is used with verbs signifying to accompany, follow, etc.
to follow the leaderἀκολουθεῖν τῷ ἡγουμένῳ
With αὐτός.—The idea of accompaniment is often expressed by αὐτός joined to the dative. This use is common when the destruction of a person or thing is referred to. Thus,
one of the ships with its crewτῶν ϝεῶν μία αὐτοῖς ἀνδράσιν
he bade them come to their posts, crowns and allεἶπεν ἥκειν εἰς τὰ̄ς τάξεις αὐτοῖς στεφάνοις
Dative of Military Accompaniment.—The dative is used in the description of military movements to denote the accompaniment (troops, ships, etc.) of a leader:
he marches out with all his armyἐξελαύνει τῷ στρατεύματι παντί
a. An extension of this usage occurs when the persons in the dative are essentially the same as the persons forming the subject (distributive use):
the enemy pursued us with their cavalry and peltastsἡμῖν ἐφείποντο οἱ πολέμιοι καὶ ἱππικῷ καὶ πελταστικῷ
b. The dative of military accompaniment is often equivalent to a dative of means when the verb does not denote the leadership of a general.
Dative of Accompanying Circumstance.—The dative, usually of an abstract substantive, may denote accompanying circumstance and manner.
a. The substantive has an attribute:
they attacked with loud shoutsπολλῇ βοῇ προσέκειντο
with good fortuneτύχῃ ἀγαθῇ
b. Many particular substantives have no attribute and are used adverbially:
to run at full speedθεῖν δρόμῳ
N.—When no adjective is used, prepositional phrases or adverbs are generally employed: σὺν κραυγῇ, σὺν δίκῃ, μετὰ δίκης, πρὸς βίᾱν (or βιαίως).
c. Here belongs the dative of feminine adjectives with a substantive (ὁδῷ, etc.) omitted, as ταύτῃ in this way, here, ἄλλῃ in another way, elsewhere, πῇ, ᾗ in what (which) way. So δημοσίᾳ at public expense, ἰδίᾳ privately, κοινῇ in common, πεζῇ on foot.
N.—Some of these forms are instrumental rather than comitative, e.g. ταύτῃ.
Space and Time.—The dative of space and time may sometimes be regarded as comitative.
a. Space: the way by which (qua), as ἐπορεύετο τῇ ὁδῷ ἣν πρότερον ἐποιήσατο he marched by the road (or on the road?) which he had made before T. 2.98; b. Time: κατηγόρει ὡς ἐκείνη τῷ χ<*>όνῳ πεισθείη she charged that she had been persuaded in (by) the course of time L. 1.20. Some of these uses are instrumental rather than comitative.
WITH ADJECTIVES, ETC.
Many adjectives and adverbs, and some substantives, take the instrumental dative by the same construction as the corresponding verbs.
their allyσύμμαχος αὐτοῖς
conformably to the lawἑπομένως τῷ νόμῳ
the law next to thisὁ ἑξῆς νόμος τούτῳ
intercourse with menκοινωνίᾱ τοῖς ἀνδράσι
attack on the fortἐπιδρομὴ τῷ τειχίσματι
LOCATIVE DATIVE
The dative as the representative of the locative is used to express place and time.
a. On the instrumental dative of space and time, see 1528.
Dative of Place.—In poetry the dative without a preposition is used to denote place.
a. Where a person or thing is:
taking his stand in the middle of the courtστὰ̄ς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ
she lay on the groundγῇ ἔκειτο
b. Place whither (limit of motion): πεδίῳ πέσε fell on the ground E 82,
put thy sword into its sheathκολεῷ ἄορ θέο
After verbs of motion the dative, as distinguished from the locative, denotes direction towards and is used of persons (1485), and is a form of the dative of interest.
Many verbs capable of taking the locative dative in poetry, require, in prose, the aid of a preposition in composition. The limit of motion is usually (1589) expressed by the accusative with a preposition (e.g. εἰς, πρός).
In prose the dative of place (chiefly place where) is used only of proper names: Πῡθοῖ at Pytho, Ἰσθμοῖ at the Isthmus, Σαλαμῖνι at Salamis, Ὀλυμπίᾱσι at Olympia, Ἀθήνησι at Athens (inscr.); especially with the names of Attic demes, as Φαληροῖ, Θορικοῖ, Μαραθῶνι. But ἐν Μαραθῶνι and ἐν Πλαταιαῖς occur. Some deme-names require ἐν, as ἐν Κοίλῃ.
Many adverbs are genuine locatives, as οἴκοι, πάλαι, πανδημεί, Φαληροῖ; Ἀθήνησι, Πλαταιᾶσι; others are datives in form, as κύκλῳ, Πλαταιαῖς.
With names of countries and places, ἐν is more common than the locative dative, and, with the above exceptions, the place where is expressed in Attic prose with ἐν.
Verbs of ruling often take the dative, especially in Homer: Μυρμιδόνεσσιν ἄνασσε Α 180, Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν η 59, ἦρχε δ᾽ ἄρα σφιν Ἀγαμέμνων Ξ 134. Rarely in prose: ἡγεῖσθαί τινι to serve as guide (leader) to some one, ἐπιστατεῖν τινι to be set over one; ἄρχειν τινί means only = to be archon (Πῡθοδώρου ἄρχοντος Ἀθηναίοις T. 2.2). Cp. 1371.
a. Only when stress is not laid on the idea of supremacy is the dative, instead of the genitive (1370), used with verbs of ruling.
It is not clear whether the dative with verbs of ruling is a dative proper (for), a locative (among; cp. ἐν Φαίηξιν ἄνασσε η 62), or an instrumental (by). ἄρχειν, ἡγεῖσθαι may take the dative proper, ἀνάσσειν, βασιλεύειν, κρατεῖν may take the locative dative.
Dative of Time.—The dative without a preposition is commonly used to denote a definite point of time (chiefly day, night, month, year, season) at which an action occurred. The dative contrasts one point of time with another, and is usually accompanied by an attributive.
The dative denotes the time at which an action takes place and the date of an event.
ταύτην μὲν τὴν ἡμέρᾱν αὐτοῦ ἔμειναν, τῇ δὲ ὑστεραίᾳ κτλ. throughout that day they waited there, but on the day following, etc. X. H. 1.1.14. So τῇ προτεραίᾳ the day before, τῇ δευτέρᾳ the second day, Ἐλαφηβολιῶνος μηνὸς ἕκτῃ (ἡμέρᾳ)
on the sixth of waning Elaphebolionφθίνοντος
on the last of the monthἕνῃ καὶ ϝέᾳ
in the third monthτρίτῳ μηνί
when summer was coming to an endπεριιόντι τῷ θέρει
in the winter seasonχειμῶνος ὥρᾳ
The names of the regular recurring festivals which serve to date an <*>ccurrence stand in the dative:
at the PanathenaeaΠαναθηναίοις
ἐν is added:
a. To words denoting time when there is no attributive:
in winterἐν τῷ χειμῶνι
it is not easy to set forth in a single day the acts of all timeοὐ ῥᾴδιον τὰ ἐν ἅπαντι τῷ χρόνῳ πρᾱχθέντα ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ δηλωθῆναι
to clear myself of calumny in so brief a timeἐξελέσθαι τὴν διαβολὴν ἐν οὕτως ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ
in the first embassyἐν τῇ προτέρᾳ πρεσβείᾳ
The dative and genitive of time are sometimes employed with only a slight difference (1447 a).
DATIVE WITH COMPOUND VERBS
Many compound verbs take the dative because of their meaning as a whole. So ἀντέχειν hold out against, ἀμφισβητεῖν dispute with (1523 b).
The dative is used with verbs compounded with σύν (regularly), with many compounded with ἐν, ἐπί, and with some compounded with παρά, περί, πρός, and ὑπό, because the preposition keeps a sense that requires the dative.
looking at himἐμβλέψᾱς αὐτῷ
to create expectations in menἐλπίδας ἐμποιεῖν ἀνθρώποις
the Greek force fell upon themαὐτοῖς ἐπέπεσε τὸ Ἑλληνικόν
these did not join the kingοὗτοι οὐ παρεγένοντο βασιλεῖ
to be subject to the rulerὑποκεῖσθαι τῷ ἄρχοντι
a. So especially with verbs of motion and rest formed from ἰέναι, πί̄πτειν, τιθέναι, τρέχειν, εἶναι, γίγνεσθαι, κεῖσθαι, etc.
Some verbs of motion compounded with παρά, περί, ὑπό take the accusative (1559).
Some verbs have an alternative construction, e.g. περιβάλλειν: τινί τι <*>nvest a person with something, τί τινι surround something with something.
Compounds of σύν take the instrumental, compounds of ἐν take the locative dative.
When the idea of place is emphatic, the preposition may be repeated:
remaining in Atticaἐμμείναντες ἐν τῇ Ἀττικῇ
abiding by one's oathτοῖς ὅρκοις ἐμμένων
he sailed in company with meμετ᾽ ἐμοῦ συνέπλει
The prepositions are more frequently repeated in prose than in poetry.
ACCUSATIVE
1551
The accusative is a form of defining or qualifying the verb.
a. The accusative derives its name from a mistranslation (casus accusativus) of the Greek (ἡ αἰτιᾱτικὴ πτῶσις, properly casus effectivus, 1554 a).
1552
A noun stands in the accusative when the idea it expresses is most immediately (in contrast to the dative) and most completely (in contrast to the genitive) under the influence of the verbal conception (in contrast to the nominative).
1553
The accusative is the case of the direct object (919). The accusative is used with all transitive verbs (and with some intransitive verbs used transitively), with some verbal nouns, and with adjectives.
1554
The direct object is of two kinds:
a. The internal object (object effected): ὁ ἀνὴρ τύπτει πολλὰ̄ς πληγά̄ς the man strikes many blows.
N. 1.—Here the object is already contained (or implied) in the verb, and its addition is optional. The accusative of the internal object is sometimes called the accusative of content. The object stands in apposition to the result of the verbal action. The effect produced by the verb is either (1) transient, when the object is a nomen actionis, and disappears with the operation of the verb, as in μάχην μάχεσθαι to fight a battle, or (2) permanent, and remains after the verbal action has ceased, as in τεῖχος τειχίζειν to build a wall. The latter form is the accusative of result (1578).
N. 2.—Almost any verb may take one of the varieties of the internal object.
b. The external object (object affected): ὁ ἀνὴρ τύπτει τὸν παῖδα the man strikes the boy.
N.—Here the object is not contained in the verb, but is necessary to explain or define the character of the action in question. The external object stands outside the verbal action.
1555
Many verbs may take an accusative either of the external or of the internal object: τέμνειν ὕ̄λην fell timber, τέμνειν τὰ̄ς τρίχας cut off the hair, τέμνειν ὁδόν open a road, but σπονδὰ̄ς or ὅρκια τέμνειν, with a specialized verbal idea, to make a treaty by slaying a victim (pass. ὅρκια ἐτμήθη), τέμνειν ὁδόν make one's way (poet.), τειχίζειν χωρίον fortify a place, but τειχίζειν τεῖχος build a wall. Cp. E. Supp. 1060: A. νῑκῶσα νί̄κην τίνα; μαθεῖν χρῄζω σέθεν. B. πά̄σᾱς γυναῖκας, κτλ. A. Victorious in what victory? This I would learn of thee. B. Over all women. Here the construction shifts from the internal to the external object.
1556
The direct object of an active transitive verb becomes the subject of the passive: ὁ παῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τύπτεται the boy is struck by the man.
a. The object of a verb governing the genitive or dative as principal object may also become the subject of the passive (1340).
1557
In Greek many verbs are transitive the ordinary English equivalents of which are intransitive and require a preposition. So σιωπᾶν τι, σῑγᾶν τι to keep silence about something.
1558
Many verbs that are usually intransitive are also used transitively in Greek. Thus, ἀσεβεῖν sin against, δυσχεραίνειν be disgusted at, χαίρειν rejoice at, ἥδεσθαι be pleased at, δακρύ̄ειν weep for. Cp. 1595 b.
a. Poetical: ᾁσσειν agitate,
pass on her wayπερᾶν πόδα
strikeκροτεῖν
1559
Many intransitive verbs are used transitively when compounded with a preposition, e.g. ἀναμάχεσθαι fight over again.—ἀπομάχεσθαι drive off, ἀποστρέφεσθαι abandon, ἀποχωρεῖν leave.—διαβαίνειν pass over, διαπλεῖν sail across, διεξέρχεσθαι go through.—εἰσιέναι come into the mind, εἰσπλεῖν said into.—ἐκβαίνειν pass, ἐκτρέπεσθαι get out of the way of, ἐξαναχωρεῖν shun, ἐξίστασθαι avoid.— ἐπιστρατεύειν march against.—καταναυμαχεῖν beat at sea, καταπολεμεῖν subdue completely, καταπολῑτεύεσθαι reduce by policy.—μετέρχεσθαι seek, pursue, μετιέναι go in quest of.—παραβαίνειν transgress.—περιιέναι go round, περιίστασθαι surround.—προσοικεῖν dwell in, προσπαίζειν sing in praise of.—ὑπερβαίνειν omit.— ὑπεξέρχεσθαι escape from.—ὑπέρχεσθαι fawn on, ὑποδύ̄εσθαι withstand, ὑποχωρεῖν shun, ὑφίστασθαι withstand.
1560
Conversely, many verbs that are usually transitive are used intransitively (with gen., dat., or with a preposition). Some of these are mentioned in 1591, 1592, 1595. Sometimes there is a difference in meaning, as ἀρέσκειν = satisfy, with accus., = please, with dat.
1561
The same verb may be used transitively or intransitively, often with little difference of signification. Cp. 1709. This is generally indicated in the treatment of the cases, e.g. αἰσθάνεσθαί τι or τινος perceive something, ἐνθῡμεῖσθαί τι or τινι consider something, μέμφεσθαί τινα or τινι blame some one.
1562
On δεῖ μοί τινος and δεῖ μέ τινος see 1400. With the inf. the accus. is usual (dat. and inf. X. A. 3.4.35). χρή μέ τινος is poetical; with the inf. χρή takes the accus. (except L. 28.10, where some read δικαίους). (χρή is an old noun; cp. χρεώ, χρεία need and 793.)
INTERNAL OBJECT (OBJECT EFFECTED)
COGNATE ACCUSATIVE
The cognate accusative is of two kinds, of which the second is an extension of the first.
(I) The substantive in the accusative is of the same origin as the verb.
talking much nonsenseπολλὴν φλυᾱρίᾱν φλυᾱροῦντα
victorious in the sea-fight at Salamisτὴν ἐν Σαλαμῖνι ναυμαχίᾱν ναυμαχήσαντες
the charge they bringἡ αἰτίᾱ ἣν αἰτιῶνται
a. Sometimes the verb may be suppressed, as ἡμῖν μὲν εὐχὰ̄ς τά̄σδε (εὔχομαι) for us these prayers A. Ch. 142.
The cognate accusative occurs even with adjectives of an intransitive character:
being neither at all wise after the fashion of their wisdom nor ignorant after the fashion of their ignoranceμήτε τι σοφὸς ὢν τὴν ἐκείνων σοφίᾱν μήτε ἀμαθὴς τὴν ἀμαθίᾱν
Passive:
war was wagedπόλεμος ἐπολεμεῖτο
(II) The substantive in the accusative is of kindred meaning with the verb.
they went forth on other expeditionsἐξῆλθον ἄλλᾱς ὁδούς
they waged what is called the Sacred Warτὸν ἱερὸν καλούμενον πόλεμον ἐστράτευσαν
he fell ill of this diseaseἠσθένησε ταύτην τὴν νόσον
born to man's estateἀνθρώπου φύσιν βλαστών
Passive:
war was stirred upπόλεμος ἐταράχθη
An extension of the cognate accusative appears in poetry with κεῖσθαι, στῆναι, καθίζειν and like verbs:
the place in which he is situatedτόπον, ὅντινα κεῖται
sitting on the tripodτρίποδα καθίζων
An attributive word is usually necessary (but not in Hom.); otherwise the addition of the substantive to the verb would be tautologous. But the attribute is omitted:
a. When the nominal idea is specialized:
to stand sentryφυλακὰ̄ς φυλάττειν
b. When the substantive is restricted by the article:
to wage the present warτὸν πόλεμον πολεμεῖν
c. When a plural substantive denotes repeated occurrences:
he performed the duty of trierarchἐτριηράρχησε τριηραρχίᾱς
d. In various expressions:
to win an Olympian victoryὈλύμπια νῑκᾶν
to be victorious in the sea-fightτὴν ναυμαχίᾱν νῑκῆσαι
to offer a sacrifice in honour of good newsθύ̄ειν τὰ εὐαγγέλια
e. In poetry the use of a substantive to denote a special form of the action of the verb is much extended: στάζειν αἷμα to drip (drops of) blood S. Ph. 783,
to breathe warἌρηπνεῖν
The substantive without an attribute is (rarely) added to the verb as a more emphatic form of statement: λῆρον ληρεῖν to talk sheer nonsense Ar. Pl. 517,
to insult grievouslyὕβριν ὑβρίζειν
The substantive may be omitted, leaving only the adjectival attribute: παῖσον διπλῆν (scil. πληγήν) strike twice (a double blow) S. El. 1415, τοῦτον ἀνέκραγον ὡς ὀλίγᾱς (scil. πληγὰ̄ς) παίσειεν they called out that he had dealt him too (1063) few blows X. A. 5.8.12. Cp. 1028.
Usually an adjective, pronoun, or pronominal adjective is treated as a neuter substantive. Cp.
to commit grave errorsμεγάλ᾽ ἁμαρτάνειν
ἡδὺ γελᾶν poet. (= ἡδὺν γέλωτα γελᾶν) to laugh sweetly, μέγα (ψεῦδος) ψεύδεται he is a great liar,
highly elated at thisμέγα φρονήσᾱς ἐπὶ τούτῳ
to be on the side of the Greeksτὰ τῶν Ἑλλήνων φρονεῖν
had the greatest influenceμέγιστον ἐδύναντο
to maltreat terriblyδεινὰ ὑβρίζειν
we fulfilled our mission as ambassadors in the same wayταὐτὰ ἐπρεσβεύομεν
Passive:
they were not deceived in thisτοῦτο οὐκ ἐψεύσθησαν
no one would be persuaded of thisταῦτα οὐδεὶς ἂν πεισθείη
For a cognate accusative in conjunction with a second object, see 1620.
Note the expressions δικάζειν δίκην decide a case, δικάζεσθαι δίκην τινί go to law with somebody, διώκειν γραφήν τινα indict somebody, φεύγειν δίκην τινός be put on one's trial for something; γράφεσθαί τινα γραφήν indict one for a public offence, φεύγειν γραφήν be put on one's trial for a public offence. Also ἀγωνίζεσθαι στάδιον (= ἀγῶνα σταδίου) be a contestant in the race-course, νῑκᾶν στάδιον be victorious in the race-course, νῑκᾶν δίκην win a case, νῑκᾶν γνώμην carry a resolution (pass. γνώμην ἡττᾶσθαι), ὀφλεῖν δίκην lose a case.
ACCUSATIVE OF RESULT
The accusative of result denotes the effect enduring after the verbal action has ceased.
ἕλκος οὐτάσαι to smite (and thus make) a wound E 361 (so οὐλὴν ἐλαύνειν ψ 74), πρεσβεύειν τὴν εἰρήνην to negotiate the peace (go as ambassadors (πρέσβεις) to make the peace) D. 19.134, but πρεσβεύειν πρεσβείᾱν to go on an embassy Dinarchus 1. 16,
to coin moneyνόμισμα κόπτειν
Verbs signifying to effect anything (αἴρειν raise, αὔξειν exalt, διδάσκειν teach, τρέφειν rear, παιδεύειν train) show the result of their action upon a substantive or adjective predicate to the direct object:
Thebes did not train thee to be baseσὲ Θῆβαί γ᾽ οὐκ ἐπαίδευσαν κακόν
to nurse and exalt him into greatnessτοῦτον τρέφειν τε καὶ αὔξειν μέγαν
raising it higherἐποικοδομήσαντες αὐτὸ ὑψηλότερον
Philip has grown from a mean to be a mighty personμέγας ἐκ μῑκροῦ Φίλιππος ηὔξηται
ACCUSATIVE OF EXTENT
The accusative denotes extent in space and time.
Space.—The accusative denotes the space or way over which an action is extended, and the measure of the space traversed.
ἄγειν (στρατιὰ̄ν)
to lead an army over narrow roadsστενὰ̄ς ὁδούς
Plataea is seventy stades distant from Thebesἀπέχει ἡ Πλάταια τῶν Θηβῶν σταδίους ἑβδομήκοντα
a. This use is analogous to the cognate accusative after verbs of motion (ἐξόδους ἐξελθεῖν, πλεῖν θάλατταν).
Time.—The accusative denotes extent of time.
he remained seven daysἔμεινεν ἡμέρᾱς ἑπτά
they made an alliance for a hundred yearsξυμμαχίᾱν ἐποιήσαντο ἑκατὸν ἔτη
The accusative of time implies that the action of the verb covers the entire period. When emphasis is laid on the uninterrupted duration of an action, παρά with the accusative (1692. 3. b) and διά with the genitive (1685. 1. b) are used. The accusative of time is rarely employed where the dative (1540) is properly in place: τήνδε τὴν ἡμέρᾱν Aes. 3.7.
Duration of life may be expressed by γεγονώς:
seventy years oldἔτη γεγονὼς ἑβδομήκοντα
To mark (a) how long a situation has lasted or (b) how much time has elapsed since something happened, an ordinal is used without the article, but often with the addition of οὑτοσί̄. The current day or year is included. Thus (a)
my mother who died two years agoτὴν μητέρα τελευτήσᾱσαν τρίτον ἔτος τουτί̄
he has been in the city since day before yesterdayἐπιδεδήμηκε τρίτην ἤδη ἡμέρᾱν
this is the third or fourth year since it was announced that Philip was besieging fort Heraeumἀπηγγέλθη Φίλιππος τρίτον ἢ τέταρτον ἔτος τουτὶ̄ Ἡραῖον τεῖχος πολιορκῶν
On the accusative of extent in degree, see 1609. With a comparative we find πολύ and ὀλίγον as well as πολλῷ and ὀλίγῳ (1514); and always τί, τὶ, οὐδέν with the comparative.
Time and degree are often expressed by prepositions with the accusative. See Prepositions under ἀμφί, ἀνά, διά, ἐπί, κατά, παρά, πρός, ὑπό.
TERMINAL ACCUSATIVE (IN POETRY)
In poetry after verbs of motion the accusative may be used without a preposition to express the goal.
having come to the city of Cadmusἄστυ Καδμεῖον μολών
we will convey her to Greeceπέμψομέν νιν Ἑλλάδα
came unto the suitorsμνηστῆρας ἀφί̄κετο
The limit of motion is also expressed by -δε (ἄστυδε Hom., in prose, Ἀθήναζε ῀ Ἀθήνᾱς ¨ δε; χαμᾶζε or χαμάζε ῀ χαμᾱς ¨ δε, cp. χαμα-ί; οἴκαδε) and, regularly in prose, by εἰς, ἐπί, παρά, πρός, ὡς (with a person) with the accusative.
EXTERNAL OBJECT (OBJECT AFFECTED)
1590
Of the many transitive verbs taking this accusative the following deserve mention:
1591
(I) To do anything to or say anything of a person.
a. εὖ (καλῶς) ποιεῖν, δρᾶν (rarely with πρά̄ττειν), εὐεργετεῖν, ὀνινάναι, ὠφελεῖν (also with dat.), θεραπεύειν, κακῶς ποιεῖν, κακοῦν, κακουργεῖν, βλάπτειν, ἀδικεῖν, ὑβρίζειν, βιάζεσθαι, ἀμείβεσθαι requite, τῑμωρεῖσθαι punish, λῡμαίνεσθαι (also with dat.), λωβᾶσθαι (also with dat.).
b. εὖ (καλῶς) λέγειν, εὐλογεῖν, κολακεύειν, θωπεύειν, προσκυνεῖν, κακῶς λέγειν, κακολογεῖν, κακηγορεῖν, λοιδορεῖν.
1592
συμφέρειν and λῡσιτελεῖν profit, βοηθεῖν help, λοιδορεῖσθαι rail at take the dat., ἀδικεῖν injure and ὑβρίζειν insult also take εἴς τινα or πρός τινα.
1593
εὖ (κακῶς) ἀκούειν, πάσχειν are used as the passives of εὖ (κακῶς) λέγειν, ποιεῖν. Cp. 1752.
1594
Many of the above-mentioned verbs take a double accusative (1622).
1595
(II) Verbs expressing emotion and its manifestations.
a. φοβεῖσθαι, δεδιέναι, τρεῖν, ἐκπλήττεσθαι, καταπλήττεσθαι fear, πτήσσειν crouch before, εὐλαβεῖσθαι beware of, θαρρεῖν have no fear of (have confidence in), αἰδεῖσθαι stand in awe of, αἰσχύ̄νεσθαι feel shame before, δυσχεραίνειν be disgusted at, ἐλεεῖν pity, πενθεῖν, θρηνεῖν, δακρύ̄ειν, κλά̄ειν (κλαίειν) lament, weep over.
b. χαίρειν rejoice at and ἥδεσθαι be pleased to hear take the accus. of a person only in the poets and only with a predicate participle (2100). αἰσχύ̄νεσθαι, χαίρειν, ἥδεσθαι, δυσχεραίνειν usually take the dat. in prose. θαρρεῖν may take the instr. dat. (Hdt. 3.76).
1596
(III) Verbs of swearing.
ὀμνύναι swear by (τοὺς θεούς, pass. Ζεὺς ὀμώμοται) and swear to (τὸν ὅρκον, pass. ὁ ὅρκος ὀμώμοται). So ἐπιορκεῖν swear falsely by.
a. ὀμνύναι τοὺς θεούς may be an abbreviation of ὀμνύναι ὅρκον (internal object) τῶν θεῶν.
b. The accusative is used in asseverations with the adverbs of swearing μά, οὐ μά, ναὶ μά, νή.
Nay, by Zeus: μὰ (τὸν) Δία, οὐ μὰ (τὸν) Δία.
Yea, by Zeus: ναὶ μὰ (τὸν) Δία, νὴ (τὸν) Δία.
μά is negative, except when preceded by ναί. μά may stand alone when a negative precedes (often in a question) or when a negative follows in the next clause: μὰ τὸν Ἀπόλλω, οὔκ Ar. Thesm. 269. μά is sometimes omitted after οὐ, and after ναί: οὐ τὸν Ὄλυμπον S. O. T. 1088, ναὶ τὰ̄ν κόρᾱν Ar. Vesp. 1438.
c. The name of the deity may be omitted in Attic under the influence of sudden scrupulousness: μὰ τὸν—ου᾽ σύ γε not you, by—P. G. 466e.
1597
(IV) Various other verbs.
φεύγειν flee from, ἀποδιδρά̄σκειν escape from, ἐνεδρεύειν lie in wait for, φθάνειν anticipate, φυλάττεσθαι guard oneself against, ἀμύ̄νεσθαι defend oneself against, λανθάνειν escape the notice of, μένειν wait for, ἐκλείπειν and ἐπιλείπειν give out, fail (
corn failed the armyτὸ στράτευμα ὁ σῖτος ἐπέλιπε
1598
The accusative is rarely found after verbal nouns and adjectives, and in periphrastic expressions equivalent to a transitive verb. (This usage is post-Homeric and chiefly poetical.)
χοὰ̄ς προπομπός (= προπέμπουσα) escorting the libations A. Ch. 23,
a speculator about things above the earthτὰ μετέωρα φροντιστής
they were acquainted with their dutiesἐπιστήμονες ἦσαν τὰ προσήκοντα
able to escape theeσὲ φύξιμος
they are in mortal fear of the envoysτεθνᾶσι τῷ δέει τοὺς ἀποστόλους
1599
Elliptical Accusative.—The accusative is sometimes used elliptically.
οὗτος, ὦ σέ τοι (scil. καλῶ) ho! you there, I am calling you! Ar. Av. 274, μή, πρός σε θεῶν τλῇς με προδοῦναι (= μή, πρὸς θεῶν σε αἰτῶ) do not, I implore thee by the gods, have the heart to leave me! E. Alc. 275, μή μοι πρόφασιν (scil. πάρεχε) no excuse! Ar. Ach. 345. Cp. 946.
FREE USES OF THE ACCUSATIVE
ACCUSATIVE OF RESPECT
To verbs denoting a state, and to adjectives, an accusative may be added to denote a thing in respect to which the verb or adjective is limited.
a. The accusative usually expresses a local relation or the instrument. The word restricted by the accusative usually denotes like or similar to, good or better, bad or worse, a physical or a mental quality, or an emotion.
The accusative of respect is employed
a. Of the parts of the body:
the man has a pain in his fingerὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸν δάκτυλον ἀλγεῖ
blind art thou in ears, and mind, and eyesτυφλὸς τά τ᾽ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ᾽ ὀ´μματ᾽ εἶ
N.—The accusative of the part in apposition to the whole (985) belongs here, as is seen by the passive. Cp.
him he smote on the neckτὸν πλῆξ᾽ αὐχένα
b. Of qualities and attributes (nature, form, size, name, birth, number, etc.):
woman differs from man in natureδιαφέρει γυνὴ ἀνδρὸς τὴν φύσιν
nor is it seemly that mortal women should rival the immortals in form and appearanceοὐδὲ ἔοικεν θνητὰ̄ς ἀ̄θανάτῃσι δέμας καὶ εἶδος ἐρίζειν
tell me of what race thou artλέξον ὅστις εἶ γένος
c. Of the sphere in general:
terrible in battleδεινοὶ μάχην
transfer yourselves in thoughtγένεσθε τὴν διάνοιαν
so far as I myself was concerned I was lost, but through you am savedτὸ μὲν ἐπ᾽ ἐμοὶ οἴχομαι, τὸ δ᾽ ἐπὶ σοὶ σέσωσμαι
base in all thingsπάντα κακός
each one of us is good in matters in which he is skilled, but bad in those in which he is ignorantταῦτα ἀγαθὸς ἕκαστος ἡμῶν, ἅπερ σοφός, ἃ δὲ ἀμαθής, ταῦτα δὲ κακός
Very rarely after substantives: χεῖρας αἰχμητής a warrior valiant with (thy) arm π 242,
youths by their appearanceνεᾱνίαι τὰ̄ς ὄψεις
For the acccusative of respect the instrumental dative (1516) is also employed, and also the prepositions ει᾿ς, κατά, πρός, e.g. διαφέρειν ἀρετῇ or εἰς ἀρετήν.
Not to be confused with the accusative of respect is the accusative after intransitive adjectives (1565) or after the passives of 1632.
The accusative of respect is probably in its origin, at least in part, an accusative of the internal object.
ADVERBIAL ACCUSATIVE
Many accusatives marking limitations of the verbal action serve the same function as adverbs.
Most of these adverbial accusatives are accusatives of the internal object: thus, in τέλος δὲ εἶπε but at last he said, τέλος is to be regarded as standing in apposition to an unexpressed object of the verb—words, which were the end. Many adverbial accusatives are thus accusatives in apposition (991) and some are accusatives of respect (1600). It is impossible to apportion all cases among the varieties of the accusatives; many may be placed under different heads. The use of adjectives as adverbs (μέγα πλούσιος very rich) is often derived from the cognate accusative with verbs (μέγα πλουτεῖν).
Manner.—τρόπον τινά in some way, τίνα τρόπον in what way? τόνδε (τοῦτον) το`ν τρόπον in this way, πάντα τρόπον in every way (also παντὶ τρόπῳ), τὴν ταχίστην (ὁδόν) in the quickest way, τὴν εὐθεῖαν (ὁδόν) straightforward, προῖκα, δωρεά̄ν gratis (1616), δίκην after the fashion of (
like an archerδίκην τοξότου
he sailed professedly for the Hellespontἔπλεε πρόφασιν ἐπ᾽ Ἑλλησπόντου
did not engage in the expedition out of good will to the Atheniansοὐ τὴν Ἀθηναίων χάριν ἐστρατεύοντο
for what reason?τοῦ χάριν
for thy sake I have comeτὴν σὴν ἥκω χάριν
Measure and Degree.—μέγα, μεγάλα greatly, πολύ, πολλά much, τὸ πολύ, τὰ πολλά for the most part, ὅσον as much as, οὐδέν, μηδέν not at all, τοσοῦτον so much, τὶ somewhat, ἀρχήν or τὴν ἀρχήν at all with οὐ or μή (
it is utterly impossible to deliberate correctly offhandἐν τῷ παραχρῆμα οὐκ ἔστιν ἀρχὴν ὀρθῶς βουλεύεσθαι
Motive.—τί why? τοῦτο, ταῦτα for this reason (cognate accus.): τί ἦλθες quid (cur) venisti = τίνα ἷξιν ἦλθες; τοῦτο χαίρω ( = ταύτην τὴν χαρὰ̄ν χαίρω) therefore I rejoice,
for this very reason have I comeαὐτὰ ταῦτα ἥκω
for this reason you are vexedτοῦτ᾽ ἄχθεσθε
Time and Succession (1582): τὸ νῦν now, τὸ πάλαι of old, πρότερον before, τὸ πρότερον the former time, πρῶτον first, τὸ κατ᾽ ἀρχά̄ς in the beginning, τὸ πρῶτον in the first place, τὸ τελευταῖον in the last place (for τὸ δεύτερον in a series use ἔπειτα or ἔπειτα δέ), τὸ λοιπόν for the future, ἀκμήν at the point, just, καιρόν in season.
TWO ACCUSATIVES WITH ONE VERB
1612
A compound expression, consisting of the accusative of an abstract substantive and ποιεῖσθαι, τίθεσθαι, ἔχειν, etc., is often treated as a simple verb; and, when transitive, governs the accusative: τὴν χώρᾱν καταδρομαῖς λείᾱν ἐποιεῖτο ( = ἐλῄζετο) he ravaged the country by his incursions T. 8.41, Ἰ̄λίου φθορὰ̄ς ψήφους ἔθεντο ( = ἐψηφίσαντο) they voted for the destruction of Ilium A. Ag. 814, μομφὴν ἔχω ἓν μὲν πρῶτά σοι ( = ἓν μέμφομαι) I blame thee first for one thing E. Or. 1069, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν μέσῳ λῆστιν ἴσχεις ( = ἐπιλανθάνει) what lies between thou hast no memory of S. O. C. 583. See 1598. So with other periphrases in poetry: τέκνα μηκύ̄νω λόγον ( = μακρότερον προσφωνῶ) I speak at length to my children S. O. C. 1120, εἰ δέ μ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἀεὶ λόγους ἐξῆρχες ( = ἤρχου λέγειν) if thou didst always (begin to) address me thus S. El. 556.
EXTERNAL OBJECT AND PREDICATE ACCUSATIVE
Verbs meaning to appoint, call, choose, consider, make, name, show, and the like, may take a second accusative as a predicate to the direct object.
he appointed him generalστρατηγὸν αὐτὸν ἀπέδειξε
to choose the king of the Indians himself to be arbitratorαἱρεῖσθαι αὐτὸν τὸν Ἰνδῶν βασιλέᾱ δικαστήν
for it is not just to consider bad men good at random, or good men badοὐ γὰρ δίκαιον οὔτε τοὺς κακοὺς μάτην χρηστοὺς νομίζειν οὔτε τοὺς χρηστοὺς κακούς
they elected Timotheus generalΤῑμόθεον στρατηγὸν ἐχειροτόνησαν
I shall consider your silence as consentτὴν σῑγήν σου ξυγχώρησιν θήσω
he has made himself masterἑαυτὸν δεσπότην πεποίηκεν
if you make me your servantἐὰ̄ν ἐμὲ σὸν θεράποντα ποιήσῃ
showing yourself a sophist before the Greeksεἰς τοὺς Ἕλληνας σαυτὸν σοφιστὴν παρέχων
to render everything easy to learnεὐμαθῆ πάντα παρέχειν
The absence of the article generally distinguishes the predicate noun from the object:
he promised to make his flatterers the richest of the citizensἐπηγγέλλετο τοὺς κόλακας τοὺς αὑτοῦ πλουσιωτάτους τῶν πολῑτῶν ποιήσειν
Especially in Plato and Herodotus, after verbs signifying to name, to call, the predicate noun may be connected with the external object by (a redundant) εἶναι (911);
they call the man a sophistσοφιστὴν ὀνομάζουσι τὸν ἄνδρα εἶναι
he is called both short and tallἐπωνυμίᾱν ἔχει σμῑκρός τε καὶ μέγας εἶναι
A predicate accusative may stand in apposition to the object: ἔδωκα δωρειὰ̄ν τὰ λύτρα I gave them the price of their ransom as a free gift D. 19.170.
Passive: both the object and the predicate accusative of the active construction become nominative (1743) in the passive construction: αὐτὸς στρα-
he himself was chosen generalτηγὸς ᾑρέθη
they shall themselves be called lawgiversαὐτοὶ νομοθέται κληθήσονται
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL OBJECT WITH ONE VERB
Many verbs take both an internal and an external object.
The external object refers to a person, the internal object (cognate accusative, 1563 ff.) refers to a thing. Here the internal object stands in closer relation to the verb.
the war taught them a lesson they will hold in everlasting remembranceὁ πόλεμος ἀείμνηστον παιδείᾱν αὐτοὺς ἐπαίδευσε
I hate thee with such an hateτοσοῦτον ἔχθος ἐχθαίρω σε
Meletus brought this accusation against meΜέλητός με ἐγράψατο τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην
Miltiades who won the battle at Marathon over the barbariansΜιλτιάδης ὁ τὴν ἐν Μαραθῶνι μάχην τοὺς βαρβάρους νῑκήσᾱς
they give me this appellationκαλοῦσί με τοῦτο τὸ ὄνομα
Passive (1747):
receiving every manner of serviceπᾶσαν θεραπείᾱν θεραπευόμενος
to be struck fifty blowsτύπτεσθαι πεντήκοντα πληγά̄ς
I omit the battles in which the Persians were defeatedτὰ̄ς μάχᾱς, ὅσᾱς Πέρσαι ἡττήθησαν ἐῶ
called by the one name of Siciliansὄνομα ἓν κεκλημένοι Σικελιῶται
So with verbs signifying to do anything to or say anything of a person (1591):
he did you much goodπολλὰ ἀγαθὰ ὑ̄μᾶς ἐποίησεν
that's what they are doing to meταυτί̄ με ποιοῦσι
I praise Agesilaus for such meritsτὰ τοιαῦτα ἐπαινῶ Ἀ̄γησίλᾱον
The accusative of the person may depend on the idea expressed by the combination of verb and accusative of the thing (1612); as in
to have done harm to the enemyτοὺς πολεμίους εἰργάσθαι κακά
When the dative of the person is used, something is done for (1474), not to him:
they rendered all honours to the deadπάντα ἐποίησαν τοῖς ἀποθανοῦσιν
Passive of 1622:
all the other wrongs that the State has sufferedὅσα ἄλλα ἡ πόλις ἠδικεῖτο
Verbs of dividing (νέμειν, κατανέμειν, διαιρεῖν, τέμνειν) may take two accusatives, one of the thing divided, the other of its parts (cognate accus.). Thus,
Cyrus divided the army into twelve divisionsΚῦρος τὸ στράτευμα κατένειμε δώδεκα μέρη
Passive:
the Agora is divided into four partsδιῄρηται ἡ ἀγορὰ̄ τέτταρα μέρη
DOUBLE OBJECT WITH VERBS SIGNIFYING TO ASK, DEMAND, ETC.
Verbs signifying to ask, clothe or unclothe, conceal, demand, deprive, persuade, remind, teach, take two objects in the accusative, one of a person, the other of a thing.
that's not the question I'm asking youοὐ τοῦτ᾽ ἐρωτῶ σε
he put his own tunic on himχιτῶνα τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἐκεῖνον ἠμφίεσε
lo Apollo himself divests me of my oracular garbἰδοὺ δ᾽ Ἀπόλλων αὐτὸς ἐκδύ̄ων ἐμὲ χρηστηρίᾱν ἐσθῆτα
he concealed from his daughter her husband's deathτὴν θυγατέρα ἔκρυπτε τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἀνδρός
to ask Cyrus for boatsΚῦρον αἰτεῖν πλοῖα
that I ever exacted or asked pay of any oneὡς ἐγώ ποτέ τινα ἢ ἐπρᾱξάμην μισθὸν ἢ ᾔτησα
he deprives me of the value of these thingsτούτων τὴν τῑμὴν ἀποστερεῖ με
I cannot persuade you of thisὑ̄μᾶς τοῦτο οὐ πείθω
I will remind you of the dangers alsoἀναμνήσω ὑ̄μᾶς καὶ τοὺς κινδύ̄νους
nobody taught me this artοὐδεὶς ἐδίδαξέ με ταύτην τὴν τέχνην
Both person and thing are equally governed by the verb. The accusative of the person is the external object; the accusative of the thing is sometimes a cognate accusative (internal accusative).
Some of these verbs also take the genitive or dative, or employ prepositions. Thus ἐρωτᾶν τινα περί τινος, αἰτεῖν (αἰτεῖσθαί) τι παρά τινος, ἀποστερεῖν or ἀφαιρεῖσθαί τινά τινος (τινός τι) (1394), or τινί τι (1483); ἀναμιμνῄσκειν τινά τινος (1356); παιδεύειν τινά τινι or τινὰ εἰς (or πρός) with the accusative.
The poets employ this construction with verbs of cleansing (a form of depriving):
he was washing the brine from his skinχρόα νίζετο ἅλμην
Passive (1747):
having had the tribute demanded of him by the kingὑπὸ βασιλέως πεπρᾱγμένος τοὺς φόρους
all who have been deprived of their horsesὅσοι ἵππους ἀπεστέρηνται
they would not credit the newsοὐκ ἐπείθοντο τὰ ἐσαγγελθέντα
having been instructed in musicμουσικὴν παιδευθείς
man is taught nothing else except knowledgeοὐδὲν ἄλλο διδάσκεται ἄνθρωπος ἢ ἐπιστήμην
The accusative of extent (1580) is freely used in the same sentence with other accusatives, as
having hauled the ships across the isthmus of Leucasὑπερενεγκόντες τὸν Λευκαδίων ἰσθμὸν τὰ̄ς ναῦς
On the accusative of the whole and part, see 985; on the accusative subject of the infinitive, see 1972 ff.; on the accusative absolute, see 2076. See also under Anacoluthon.
TWO VERBS WITH A COMMON OBJECT
1634
The case of an object common to two verbs is generally that demanded by the nearer:
we must not accuse the trainer or banish him from the citiesοὐ δεῖ τοῖς παιδοτρίβαις ἐγκαλεῖν οὐδ᾽ ἐκβάλλειν ἐκ τῶν πόλεων
a. The farther verb may contain the main idea:
he censures some and rejects them at the scrutinyἐπιτῑμᾷ καὶ ἀποδοκιμάζει τισί
1635
The construction is usually ruled by the participle, not by the finite verb, when they have a common object but different constructions, and especially when the object stands nearer the participle:
having given him guides he ordered him to proceed quietlyτούτῳ δοὺς ἡγεμόνας πορεύεσθαι ἐκέλευσεν ἡσύχως
falling upon the foremost they put them to flightπροσπεσόντες τοῖς πρώτοις τρέπουσι
a. Sometimes the finite verb regulates the construction, as
he summoned the Greeks and exhorted themκαλέσᾱς παρεκελεύετο τοῖς Ἕλλησι
Herbert Weir Smyth.
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