1.35: δείκνυμι and φημί
The Verb
In Greek and in English verbs have the same definitions and functions. Verbs are words that represent actions ( throw ) and states of being ( be or exist ). They differ in the same fundamental way that Greek nouns differ from their English counterparts: they use endings to create meaning in a way that English does not. The Greek verb ( ῥῆμα ) in its finite form has an ending that indicates what person and number the subject is. The Greek infinitive has an ending that indicates that it is unmarked for person and number .
The μι-Verbs δείκνυμι and φημί
Though not as numerous as ω-verbs, μι-verbs occur frequently. μι-verbs conjugate differently from ω-verbs in some tenses, typically the present, imperfect, aorist, and sometimes the perfect. In conjugating these verb forms, learn which stem to combine with which ending. The stem is the base of the word to which the ending is joined. Once you have the correct stem and ending, combine them to create the correct form. You may memorize the stems and endings or you may learn how to combine stems and endings so that you can recognize the forms as you encounter them.
Present and Imperfect Tense Stems
Use the long vowel grade stem for the singular (I, you, he, she, it) and the short vowel grade for the plural (we, you, they). Note that the stems differ even within the same tense, mood, and voice.
| long vowel grade stem (use for the singular) | short vowel grade stem (use for the plural) |
| δεικνῡ- | δεικνυ- |
| φη- | φα- |
Present and Imperfect Tense Endings
Add to the correct tense stem.
| Primary Active (use for the present) | Secondary Active (use for the imperfect) | ||||
| S | PL | S | PL | ||
| 1 st | -μι | -μεν | 1 st | -ν | -μεν |
| 2 nd | -ς | -τε | 2 nd | -ς | -τε |
| 3 rd | -σι (ν) | -ᾱσι (ν) | 3 rd | --- | -σαν |
| Infinitive Active | |||||
| -ναι |
| Primary Middle and Passive (use for the present) | Secondary Middle and Passive (use for the imperfect) | ||||
| S | PL | S | PL | ||
| 1 st | -μαι | -μεθα | 1 st | -μην | -μεθα |
| 2 nd | -σαι | -σθε | 2 nd | -σο | -σθε |
| 3 rd | -ται | -νται | 3 rd | -το | -ντο |
| Infinitive Middle and Passive | |||||
| -σθαι |
The Conjugation of δείκνυμι
The principal parts are these:
δείκνῡμι δείξω ἔδειξα δέδειχα δέδειγμαι ἐδείχθην
Remember that to conjugate correctly, you need to combine the correct stem with the correct endings.
Present Indicative Active of δείκνῡμι
Singular: long vowel grade, δεικνῡ- , + primary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, δεικνυ- , + primary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| δείκνῡμι | I show | 1 st person singular |
| δείκνῡς | you show | 2 nd person singular |
| δείκνῡσι (ν) | he, she, it shows | 3 rd person singular |
| δείκνυμεν | we show | 1 st person plural |
| δείκνυτε | you show | 2 nd person plural |
| δεικνύᾱσι (ν) | they show | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Active of δείκνῡμι
Short vowel grade of the stem, δεικνυ-, + -ναι.
δεικνύναι to show unmarked
- Note that infinitives with the ending -ναι are ALWAYS accented on the penult. Thus, its accent is persistent. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.
Present Indicative Middle of δείκνῡμι
Short vowel grade of the stem, δεικνυ- , + primary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| δείκνυμαι | I set | 1 st person singular |
| δείκνυσαι | you set | 2 nd person singular |
| δείκνυται | he, she, it sets | 3 rd person singular |
| δεικνύμεθα | we set | 1 st person plural |
| δείκνυσθε | you set | 2 nd person plural |
| δείκνυνται | they set | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Middle of δείκνῡμι
Short vowel grade of the stem, δεικνυ-, + -σθαι.
δείκνυσθαι to set unmarked for person & #
- Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.
Present Indicative Passive of δείκνῡμι
Short vowel grade of the stem, δεικνυ-, + primary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| δείκνυμαι | I am shown | 1 st person singular |
| δείκνυσαι | you are shown | 2 nd person singular |
| δείκνυται | he, she, it is shown | 3 rd person singular |
| δεικνύμεθα | we are shown | 1 st person plural |
| δείκνυσθε | you are shown | 2 nd person plural |
| δείκνυνται | they are shown | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Passive of δείκνῡμι
Short vowel grade of the stem, δεικνυ- , + -σθαι.
δείκνυσθαι to be shown unmarked for person & #
- Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.
Imperfect Indicative Active of δείκνῡμι
Singular: long vowel grade, δεικνῡ- , + past indicative augment and secondary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, δεικνυ- , + past indicative augment and secondary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἐδείκνῡν | I was showing, used to show | 1 st person singular |
| ἐδείκνῡς | you were showing, used to show | 2 nd person singular |
| ἐδείκνῡ |
he, she, it was showing, used to
show |
3 rd person singular |
| ἐδείκνυμεν | we were showing, used to show | 1 st person plural |
| ἐδείκνυτε | you were showing, used to show | 2 nd person plural |
| ἐδείκνυσαν | they were showing, used to show | 3 rd person plural |
Imperfect Indicative Middle of δείκνῡμι
Short vowel grade stem, δεικνυ- , + past indicative augment and secondary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἐδεικνύμην | I was setting, used to set | 1 st person singular |
| ἐδείκνυσο | you were setting, used to set | 2 nd person singular |
| ἐδείκνυτο | he, she, it was setting, used to set | 3 rd person singular |
| ἐδεικνύμεθα | we were setting, used to set | 1 st person plural |
| ἐδείκνυσθε | you were setting, used to set | 2 nd person plural |
| ἐδείκνυντο | they were setting, used to set | 3 rd person plural |
Imperfect Indicative Passive of δείκνῡμι
Short vowel grade stem, δεικνυ- , + past indicative augment and secondary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἐδεικνύμην |
I was being shown, used
to be shown |
1 st person singular |
| ἐδείκνυσο |
you were being shown,
used to be shown |
2 nd person singular |
| ἐδείκνυτο |
he, she, it was being
shown, used to be shown |
3 rd person singular |
| ἐδεικνύμεθα |
we were being shown,
used to be shown |
1 st person plural |
| ἐδείκνυσθε |
you were being shown,
used to be shown |
2 nd person plural |
| ἐδείκνυντο |
they were being shown,
used to be shown |
3 rd person plural |
The Conjugation of φημί
The principal parts are these:
φημί φήσω ἔφησα ------ ------ ------
φημί does not have a middle or a passive voice. It has active forms in the present, imperfect, future, and aorist. It uses μι-verb endings for the present and imperfect and ω-verb endings for the future and first aorist.
Remember that to conjugate correctly, you need to combine the correct stem with the correct endings.
Present Indicative Active of φημί
Singular: long vowel grade, φη- , + primary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, φα- , + primary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| φημί | I say | 1 st person singular |
| φής, φῄς, φῇσθα | you say | 2 nd person singular |
| φησί (ν) | he, she, it says | 3 rd person singular |
| φαμέν | we say | 1 st person plural |
| φατέ | you say | 2 nd person plural |
| φᾱσί (ν) | they say | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Active of φημί
Short vowel grade, φα- , + -ναι .
φάναι to say unmarked
- Note that infinitives with the ending -ναι are ALWAYS accented on the penult. Thus its accent is persistent. Remember that final -αι and -οι count as short for purposes of accentuation except in the optative, a mood learned in Part II of the 21st-Century series.
Imperfect Indicative Active of φημί
Singular: long vowel grade, φη- , + past indicative augment and secondary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, φα- , + past indicative augment and secondary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἔφην | I was saying, used to say | 1 st person singular |
| ἔφης, ἔφησθα |
you were saying, used to
say |
2 nd person singular |
| ἔφη |
he, she, it was saying,
used to say |
3 rd person singular |
| ἔφαμεν |
we were saying, used to
say |
1 st person plural |
| ἔφατε |
you were saying, used to
say |
2 nd person plural |
| ἔφασαν |
they were saying, used to
say |
3 rd person plural |
Practice Translating μι-Verbs. Translate the below sentences, adapted from a variety of ancient Greek writers. To come to an accurate understanding of the sentences, use your knowledge of endings and their functions. If you forget an ending or function, remember to use the Case and Function Chart in Appendix I and the Adjective, Adverb, Noun, and Pronoun Chart in Appendix VIII to assist you. After you finish translating each sentence, check your understanding with the answer in the Answer Key. After you have read through all of the sentences once, read them again at least two more times. In each subsequent reading your understanding improves.
- ὁ πόλεμος καὶ δυστυχία τὰς ὀργὰς τῶν βροτῶν τὰς αὐτὰς ταῖς συντυχίαις καθιστᾶσιν.
- ἡ γῆ μέλαινα πίνει· πίνει δένδρεα δ’ αὖ γῆν· ὁ δ’ ἥλιος θάλατταν; τὸν δ’ ἥλιον σελήνη. ἡ φύσις καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ τῶν πάντων πίνειν. τί, ὦ ἑταῖροι, οὐ καλὸν καί μοι πίνειν (Anakreontic, anonymous poems written in the Anakreontic meter);
- ὅσῳ πέλας τὰ Μοίρας, μᾶλλον πρέπει τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τερπνὰ παίζειν· καὶ γὰρ ἡ Μοίρα ὡς τάχιστα τὰς τέρψεις τοῦ βίου δίδωσι καὶ λαμβάνει.
- Μοίρα δεσπότῃ ἔδωκε τὸ σῶμα Ζωσίμης, ψύχην ἀγαθῆς, καὶ νῦν θανάτῳ, ἣ πρὶν ἦν μόνῳ τῷ σώματι δούλη, καὶ τῷ σώματι εὗρεν ἐλευθερίην (Damaskios).
- παρ’ αὐτῷ Ζηνὶ πίμπλημι ἀμβροσίης ὅταν τὰ ὄμματα βλέπω ἧς ἐράω.
- ἐπεὶ ἀστέρας ἀναβλέπεις, Ἀστήρ, οὐρανός εἰμι καὶ πολλοῖς ὄμμασιν εἰς σὲ καταβλέπω.
- οὔτε γὰρ ἐλπίδ’ ἔχομεν γηράσαι οὔτε θανεῖν ὅτε ἐσμὲν ὑγιείας καλῆς· ἀλλὰ χρόνος βιότου θνητοῖς ὀλίγος.
- πῶς δ’ ὑγιείαν ἔδοτε αὐτοῖς, ὡς πάντες ὧν ψαύετε θνῄσκουσιν;
- αἰνίζειν μὲν ἄριστον· ὁ δὲ ψόγος ἔχθους ἀρχή· ἀλλὰ κακῶς εἰπεῖν Ἀττικὴν δίδωσί μοι τέρψιν.
- πάντα θεοῖς ἀνέθεσαν Ὅμηρός θ’ Ἡσίοδός τε· κλέπτειν, μοιχεύειν τε καὶ ἀλλήλους ἀπατεύειν.
Adverbs and Verbs
| αἰνίζω praise, approve | καταβλέπω look, look down |
| ἀναβλέπω look, look back | κλέπτω steal |
| ἀνατίθημι set up, establish, dedicate, offer | *λαμβάνω, λήψομαι, ἔλαβον take, receive; capture |
| ἀπατεύω deceive | *λέγω, λέξω or ἐρέω, ἔλεξα or εἶπον say, tell, speak |
| αὖ (adverb, postpositive) in turn, again | λύω (ῡ), λύσω, ἔλῡσα loose , free, destroy; (mid.) ransom |
| *ἄρχω, ἄρξω, ἦρξα rule, command; begin + gen. | μοιχεύω commit adultery; debauch |
| βλέπω, βλέψω, ἔβλεψα see, have the power of sight | νεύω, νεύσω, ἔνευσα nod |
| γηράσκω, γηράσομαι, ἐγήρᾱσα grow old, become old | παίζω, παίξομαι or παιξέομαι, ἔπαισα , play, sport, dance |
| *δίδωμι, δώσω, ἔδωκα give; allow ‘x’ in dat. or acc. + inf., ἐμὲ (έμοί) εὐτυχέειν δίδως you allow me to prosper | πειράω, πειράσω, ἐπείρασα , attempt, undertake; (mid. and pass) try, make an attempt; make trial of, test + gen. |
| *εἰμί, ἔσομαι be, be possible | πέλας nearby |
| ἐράω love; long for, desire + gen. | πίμπλημι fill, fill up; fill ‘x’ (a person or thing) in acc. with ‘y’ a thing in gen.; be full of + gen. |
| *εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω, ηὗρον find out, discover | πίνω, πίομαι or πιέομαι, ἔπιον drink; drink of + gen. |
| *ἔχω, ἕξω or σχήσω, ἔσχον have, hold; be able + inf.; καλῶς ἔχειν to be well | πρέπω, πρέψω, ἔπρεψα be clearly seen, resemble, seem; be fitting; liken |
| *θνῄσκω, θανέομαι, ἔθανον die, perish | τάχιστα most quickly |
| *καθίστημι appoint, establish, put into a state; (intrans.) be established, be appointed | ψαύω, ψαύσω, ἔψαυσα touch + gen. |
Adjectives, Nouns, Pronouns
| *------, ἀλλήλων one another | *θεός, θεοῦ ἡ ὁ god, goddess, deity |
| *ἀγαθός, ἀγαθή, ἀγαθόν good, noble | θνητός, θνητή, θνητόν mortal |
| ἀμβροσία, ἀμβροσίας ἡ nectar of the gods | *καλός, καλή, καλόν beautiful, noble, good |
| *ἄνθρωπος, ἀνθρώπου ἡ ὁ human, person | μέλας, μέλαινα, μέλαν black, dark |
| ἄριστος, ἀρίστη, ἄριστον best, noblest | μοῖρα, μοίρας ἡ lot; portion; fate |
| *ἀρχή, ἀρχῆς ἡ rule, command; beginning; empire | *μόνος, μόνη, μόνον only, sole, alone, solitary; one |
| ἀστήρ, ἀστέρος ὁ star | Ὅμηρος, Ὁμήρου ὁ Homer |
| Ἀττικός, Ἀττική, Ἀττικόν Attic, Athenian | *ὀλίγος, ὀλίγα, ὀλίγον few |
| *βίος, βίου ὁ life | ὄμμα, ὄμματος τό eye |
| βίοτος, βιότου ὁ life | ὀργή, ὀργῆς ἡ impulse; passion, anger |
| βροτός, βροτοῦ ὁ mortal man; (adj.) mortal | *ὅσος, ὅση, ὅσον so many, as many as |
| *γῆ, γῆς ἡ land, earth | οὐρανός, οὐρανοῦ ὁ sky, heaven |
| δένδρεον = δένδρον, -ου τό (-ος, -ους (-εος) τό) tree | πέτρος, πέτρου ὁ rock |
| δεσπότης, δεσπότου ὁ master | *πόλεμος, πολέμου ὁ war |
| δούλη, δούλης ἡ slave | σελήνη, σελήνης ἡ moon |
| δυστυχία, δυστυχίας ἡ ill-luck, ill-fortune | στρατόπεδον, στρατοπέδου τό camp |
| ἐλευθερία, ἐλευθερίας ἡ freedom, liberty | συντυχία, συντυχίας ἡ incident; fortune |
| ἐλπίς, ἐλπίδος ἡ hope, expectation | *σῶμα, σώματος τό body |
| ἑταῖρος, ἑταίρου ὁ comrade, companion | τερπνός, τερπνή, τερπνόν delightful, pleasant, agreeable, glad |
| ἔχθος, ἔχθους (-εος) τό hate, hatred | τέρψις, τέρψεως ἡ pleasure, enjoyment τιμή, τιμῆς ἡ esteem, honor |
| Ζήν, Ζηνός ὁ Zeus | τιμή, τιμῆς ἡ esteem, honor |
| Ζωσίμη, Ζωσίμης ἡ Zosime | ὑγίεια, ὑγιείᾱς ἡ health, soundness |
| ἥλιος, ἡλίου ὁ sun | *φύσις, φύσιος (φύσηος, φύσεως) ἡ nature |
| Ἡσίοδος, Ἡσιόδου ὁ Hesiod, Greek poet c. 700 BCE | *χρόνος, χρόνου ὁ time |
| *θάλασσα (θάλαττα), θαλάσσης ἡ sea | ψόγος, ψόγου ὁ blame, flaw, censure |
| θάνατος, θανάτου ὁ death | *ψυχή, ψυχῆς ἡ life, soul, spirit |
- The asterisk indicates the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary, which you are to memorize.
Practice Translating. Translate the sentences below, which have been adapted from Lucian’s The Lover of Lies ( Φιλοψευδής ). Remember the meanings and functions of the cases presented in Module 7. Use your memory to identify endings and their functions. If you forget an ending or a function, consult the Adjective, Adverb, Noun, and Pronoun Chart in Appendix VIII and the Case and Function Chart in Appendix I. Check your understanding with the translations in the Answer Key, making sure that you understand why each word translates as it does. Now go back and read each sentence two or three times, noticing with each rereading how much better your understanding of the sentence becomes. Make this a habit and you will improve quickly.
Εὐκράτης:
κατὰ μικρὸν δὲ φιλοφρονούμενος οὐ πολὺ ἑταῖρος αὐτῷ καὶ συνήθης ἐγενόμην ὥστε πάντων ἐκοίνωσε μοι τῶν ἀπορρήτων. καὶ τέλος ἔπεισε με τοὺς μὲν οἰκέτας πάντας ἐν τῇ Μέμφιδι καταλιπεῖν, αὐτὸν δὲ μόνον ἀκολουθεῖν μετ’ αὐτοῦ· μὴ γὰρ ἀπορήσειν ἡμᾶς ὅτι οἱ πολλοὶ ἡμῖν διακονήσονται. καὶ τὸ μετὰ τοῦτο οὕτω διήγομεν. ἐπεὶ ἤλθομεν εἴς τι καταγώγιον, ἔλαβεν ὁ ἀνὴρ ἢ τὸν μοχλὸν τῆς θύρας ἢ τὸ κόρηθρον ἢ καὶ τὸ ὕπερον καὶ τοῦτο περέβαλεν ἱματίοις. ἔπειτα ἐπιλέγει τινα ἐπῳδὴν καὶ τοῦτο ἐποίει βαδίζειν. δοκέει τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν ἄνθρωπος εἶναι. τὸ δὲ ἀπέρχεται ὕδωρ τε ἐμπίπλησι καὶ ἐσκεύαζε καὶ πάντα δεξιῶς ὑπηρέτεε καὶ διηκονέετο ἡμῖν. καὶ εἶτα ἐπεὶ ἅλις ἔχει τῆς διακονίας, ὁ δὲ Παγκράτης ἄλλην ἐπῳδὴν ἐπιλέγων αὖθις κόρηθρον τὸ κόρηθρον ἢ ὕπερον τὸ ὕπερον ἐποίεε. τοῦτο ἐγὼ πάνυ ἐσπούδαζον ἐκμανθάνειν παρ’ αὐτοῦ ἀλλὰ οὐκ
εἶχον. ἐβάσκαινε γάρ, καίτοι πρὸς τὰ ἄλλα προχειρότατος ὤν. μιᾷ δέ ποτε ἡμέρᾳ λαθών—ἐν σκοτεινῷ ὑφίστημι—ἐπήκουσα τῆς ἐπῳδῆς· ἦν δὲ τρισύλλαβος σχεδόν. καὶ ὁ μὲν ἐντέλλει τῷ ὑπέρῳ ταῦτα ἃ δεῖ ποιεῖν καὶ ᾤχετο εἰς τὴν ἀγοράν.
Adverbs and Verbs
| ἀκολουθέω follow, accompany + dat. | ἐπακούω listen, hear, overhear |
| ἅλις sufficiently, enough | ἐπιλέγω say, utter, pronounce; pick out, choose; (mid.) think over, consider; read |
| ἀπέρχομαι, ἀπελεύσομαι, ἀπῆλθον depart, leave | *ἔρχομαι, ἐλεύσομαι, ἦλθον come, go |
| ἀπορέω, ἀπορήσομεν, ἠπόρησα be without means or resources; be at a loss, be in doubt; lack + gen. | *ἔχω, ἕξω or σχήσω, ἔσχον have, hold; be able + inf.; καλῶς ἔχειν to be well |
| αὖθις again, in turn, hereafter, in the future | καίτοι and indeed, and yet; though |
| βαδίζω, βαδιέω or βαδίσω, ἐβάδισα , walk, go | καταλείπω, -λείψω, -έλιπον leave behind |
| βασκαίνω slander, malign, bewitch; envy, grudge, keep to oneself | κοινόω, κοινώσω, ἐκοίνωσα communicate, impart; make common, share; (mid.) be partner, be sharer, be partaker + gen. |
| *γίγνομαι, γενήσομαι, ἐγενόμην be, be born | *λαμβάνω, λήψομαι, ἔλαβον take, receive; capture |
| *δεῖ, δεήσει it is necessary + dat. or acc. + inf. | οἴχομαι, οἰχήσομαι , ------ go, be gone, have gone |
| διάγω carry over; (intrans.) cross over; pass, spend; (intrans.) live | *πείθω, πείσω, ἔπεισα persuade, persuade ‘x’ in acc. + inf.; (mid. or pass.) listen to, obey + dat. or gen. |
| διακονέω, διακονήσω minister, serve, do service + dat. | περιβάλλω throw around |
| *δοκέω, δόξω, ἔδοξα seem, think; seem best, think best + inf. | *ποιέω, ποιήσω, ἐποίησα do, make, cause; (mid.) consider |
| *εἰμί, ἔσομαι be, be possible | σκευάζω, σκευάσω, ἐσκεύασα prepare, make ready |
| εἶτα then, next, accordingly | σπουδάζω, σπουδάσω be serious, be earnest; be eager + inf. |
| ἐκμανθάνω learn, know, examine | σχεδόν near, roughly speaking, about, almost |
| ἐμπίμπλημι fill, fill up; fill ‘x’ (a person or thing) in acc. with ‘y’ a thing in gen. | ὑπηρετέω, ὑπηρετήσω serve as a rower; minister to, serve + dat. |
| ἐντέλλω order, enjoin, command | ὑφίστημι place under; put secretly in ambush; lie concealed |
Adjectives, Nouns, Pronouns
| ἀγορά, ἀγορᾶς ἡ: agora, marketplace | Μέμφις, Μέμφιδος ἡ Memphis, an Egyptian city on the Nile river south of Cairo, the capital of Egypt c. 2700–2200 |
| *ἄλλος, ἄλλη, ἄλλο another, other | *μικρός, μικρά, μικρόν small, little, short |
| *ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός ὁ man, husband | μοχλός, μοχλοῦ ὁ bar, lever, crowbar |
| *ἄνθρωπος, ἀνθρώπου ἡ ὁ human, person | οἰκέτης, οἰκέτου ὁ household slave |
| ἀπόρρητος, ἀπόρρητον forbidden, secret | Παγκράτης, Παγκράτου ὁ Pankrates |
| διακονία, διακονίας ἡ service | προχειρότατος, προχειροτάτη, προχειρότατον most at hand, ready |
| ἐπιλέγων, ἐπιλέγοντος ὁ speaking | σκοτεινός, σκοτεινή, σκοτεινόν dark |
| ἐπῳδή, ἐπῳδῆς ἡ enchantment, spell, charm | συνήθης, συνήθες living together; well-acquainted, intimate; accustomed, customary |
| ἑταῖρος, ἑταίρου ὁ comrade, companion | *τέλος, τέλους (-εος) τό: end, boundary; power; office; (acc.) finally |
| ἡμέρα, ἡμέρας ἡ day | τρισύλλαβος, τρισύλλαβον trisyllabic |
| θύρα, θύρας ἡ door | ὕδωρ, ὕδατος τό water |
| ἱμάτιον, ἱματίου τό cloak; piece of dress or cloth; (pl.) clothes | ὕπερον, ὑπέρου τό pestle |
| καταγώγιον, καταγωγίου τό lodging, inn, resting-place | φιλοφρονεόμενος, φιλοφρονεομένου ὁ treating or dealing with kindly + dat. |
| κόρηθρον, κορήθρου τό besom, broom | ὤν, ὄντος ὁ being |
| λαθών, λαθόντος ὁ secretly, by stealth |
- The asterisk indicates the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary, which you are to memorize.
Practice Parsing Greek Sentences. Parse each word of the sentences found below. For nouns and pronouns, give their case and function. For verbs, give their person, number, tense, mood, and voice. For adverbs and conjunctions, identify them. For prepositional phrases, give the preposition and the preposition’s object. For adjectives, tell what noun they agree with in gender, number, and case.
ἓν δὲ βέλτιστον, ὃς κακὰ ἐμὲ ἐποίησε, τοῦτον δέννοις ἀντιδοῦναι κακοῖς. ἔπειτα ἐπιλέγει τινα ἐπῳδὴν καὶ τοῦτο ἐποίεε βαδίζειν.
Check your answers with those in the Answer Key.
Eukleides (Euclid) of Alexandria (Εὐκλείδης c. 300 BCE). Born in Alexandria, Eukleides developed a conceptual system of geometry from a small set of axioms. His book, Elements , has been used to teach geometry up until 150 or so years ago. In Elements , Euclid discusses number theory, the connection between perfect numbers and Mersenne primes, the infinity of prime numbers, the uniqueness of prime factorization, and an algorithm for finding a common divisor of two numbers. Until recently Euclid’s geometry was the only geometry possible. As of the 19 th century, mathematicans have discovered other geometries collectively referred to as non-Euclidean. Euclid and the non-Euclidean geometrical systems that followed are examples of discontinuities that created ways of knowing that were novel.
Herms and Phalloi
Considered apotropaic (having the ability to ward off evil), the phallus appears on herms and as a pendant attached to chains and worn around the neck of children.
Like learning the alphabet and endings, memorizing vocabulary is essential to acquiring language. The better you memorize the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary words the greater mastery of the language you will have.
Adjectives
ἑκάτερος, ἑκατέρᾱ, ἑκάτερον each
κοινός, κοινή, κοινόν shared, common; ἐκ τοῦ κοινοῦ shared in common; (n.) τὸ κοινόν the state
οἷος, οἵᾱ, οἷον such, such a kind; οἷός τέ εἰμι I am able, I am of such a kind to + inf.; οἷον or οἷα how, like, as, because
ὅλος, ὅλη, ὅλον whole, entire
Verbs
κρατέω, κρατήσω, ἐκράτησα, ------, ------, ἐκρατήθην be strong, powerful, rule + gen.
μανθάνω, μαθήσομαι, ἔμαθον, μεμάθηκα, ------, ------ learn; learn to, learn how to + inf.; understand
ὁμολογέω, ὁμολογήσω, ὡμολόγησα, ὡμολόγηκα, ὡμολόγημαι, ὡμολογήθην speak together; agree; admit
Etymology Corner XXIX by Dr. E. Del Chrol
Technical Terms 25, Parts of Speech
Adjectives, cont. In Module 27, we meet the three degrees of adjectives and adverbs . We’ve already met the root of degree in progressive and grade, gradior/gress - means step . There are three steps we have with our adjectives.
- Positive degree is the plain, average meaning of the adjective, the one that is placed in the dictionary (from our frequently recurring root, ponere/positus , put or placed ).
-
When you make a
comparison
, you are judging two things next to each other to tell which one is bigger, or smarter, or faster. The Latin means
along with an equal
from
com
,
along with
, and
par
,
equal
.
- The degree of difference is the size of the step/distance between two items (dis-/dif-, away from, like in distract (to drag someone’s attention away from something) and ferre which we’ve already met as carry ).
- If you had Senior Superlatives in high school, they were used to mark the people most likely to succeed , or with the best smile , or the cutest couple . In my yearbook I was “most likely to write an etymology corner for a Greek textbook”. (At least that’s what it says now that I’ve spent a little time with a label printer.) These people have been carried above all the rest. Super , like where Superman flies, means above, and latus is the past participle of ferre which we met in Comparatives . An adjective or adverb in the superlative degree is the ultimate degree, the highest, best, sweetest, or most honorable, the one that is beyond all the rest.
- Adjectives can be in attributive and predicate position , one of the ways paying close attention to word order is vital for correctly discerning meaning. When something is in attributive position it is an attribute, that is, a quality or characteristic. This comes from the Latin ad + tribuere , to grant or gift to someone , easily seen in the English tribute , a gift given out of respect or esteem. Words in the attributive position are granted to the noun they modify like gifts. Words in the predicate position , on the other hand, are talking about their noun. We met the etymons prae , before , and dicare , to assert or talk about earlier in the textbook. The distinction seems small, but the precision of Greek allows it to say much with these subtle distinctions.
What to Study and Do 29.
Before moving on to the next module, make sure that you have memorized the endings for
μι-verbs
and that you understand how to translate
and identify each form.
Learning Tip 29: Creation and Destruction. Albert Low argues that the need to create is a fundamental life force of the universe. Ordinary people with ordinary jobs have just as much a need to create as does the expert musician, painter, poet, or scientist. We cannot repress our drive to create. It must be expressed constructively through allowing our imagination to realize its potential. Low argues that if our need to create is repressed, it will be expressed destructively against others or one’s self. Denying the potential that resides in oneself has far-reaching consequences. Accepting it takes courage and involves work.