1.37: ἵημι and ἵστημι
The Verb
In Greek and in English verbs have the same definition 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 ἵημι and ἵστημι
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, Imperfect, and Aorist Tense Stems
Present and Imperfect Tense Stems
Use the long vowel grade stem for the singular and the short vowel grade for the plural. 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) |
| ἱη- or ἱει- | ἱε- |
| ἱστη- | ἱστα- |
Mixed Aorist Tense Stems
| long vowel grade (use for the singular) | short vowel grade (use for the plural) |
| ἡκ- | ἑ- (εἱ-) |
Root Aorist Tense Stem
| long vowel grade (use for the singular) | long vowel grade (use for the plural) |
| στη- | στη- |
Present, Imperfect, and Aorist Tense Endings
Add to the correct tense stem.
| Primary Active (use for the present) | Secondary Active (use for the imperfect and aorist) | ||||
| 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 |
| Present Infinitive Active | Aorist Infinitive Active | ||||
| -ναι | -ναι |
| Primary Middle and Passive (use for the present) | Secondary Middle and Passive (use for the imperfect and aorist) | ||||
| 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 |
| Present Infinitive Middle and Passive | Aorist Infinitive Middle | ||||
| -σθαι | -σθαι |
The Conjugation of ἵημι
The principal parts are these:
ἵημι ἥσω -ἧκα* -εἷκα -εἷμαι -εἷθην
- Note that one asterisk* indicates a mixed aorist.
- The dashes on principal parts three through six indicate that in the wild the forms are found with prefixes.
Remember that to conjugate correctly, you need to combine the correct stemwith the correct endings.
Present Indicative Active of ἵημι
Singular: long vowel grade, ἱη- or ἱει- + primary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, ἱε- , + primary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἵημι | I hurl | 1 st person singular |
| ἵης, ἱεῖς | you hurl | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵησι (ν) | he, she, it hurls | 3 rd person singular |
| ἵεμεν | we hurl | 1 st person plural |
| ἵετε | you hurl | 2 nd person plural |
| ἱέᾱσι (ν), ἱᾶσι (ν) | they hurl | 3 rd person plural |
- In the third person plural, ἱᾶσι (ν), epsilon ε, and alpha α, contract.
Present Infinitive Active of ἵημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε-, + -ναι.
ἱέναι to hurl 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 ἵημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε-, + primary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἵεμαι | I hasten | 1 st person singular |
| ἵεσαι | you hasten | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵεται | he, she, it hastens | 3 rd person singular |
| ἱέμεθα | we hasten | 1 st person plural |
| ἵεσθε | you hasten | 2 nd person plural |
| ἵενται | they hasten | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Middle of ἵημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε- , + -σθαι .
ἵεσθαι to hasten 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 ἵημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε- , + primary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἵεμαι | I am hurled | 1 st person singular |
| ἵεσαι | you are hurled | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵεται | he, she, it is hurled | 3 rd person singular |
| ἱέμεθα | we are hurled | 1 st person plural |
| ἵεσθε | you are hurled | 2 nd person plural |
| ἵενται | they are hurled | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Passive of ἵημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱε- , + -σθαι .
ἵεσθαι to be hurled 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 ἵημι
Singular: long vowel grade, ἱη- or ἱει- + past indicative augment + secondary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, ἱε- , + past indicative augment + secondary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἵην (ῑ) | I was hurling, used to hurl | 1 st person singular |
| ἵεις | you were hurling, used to hurl | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵει |
he, she, it was hurling, used to
hurl |
3 rd person singular |
| ἵεμεν |
we were were hurling, used to
hurl |
1 st person plural |
| ἵετε | you were hurling, used to hurl | 2 nd person plural |
| ἵεσαν | they were hurling, used to hurl | 3 rd person plural |
Imperfect Indicative Middle of ἵημι
Short vowel grade stem, ἱε- , + past indicative augment + secondary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἱέμην (ῑ) |
I was hastening, used to
hasten |
1 st person singular |
| ἵεσο |
you were hastening, used
to hasten |
2 nd person singular |
| ἵετο |
he, she, it was hastening,
used to hasten |
3 rd person singular |
| ἱέμεθα |
we were hastening, used
to hasten |
1 st person plural |
| ἵεσθε |
you were hastening, used
to hasten |
2 nd person plural |
| ἵεντο |
they were hastening, used
to hasten |
3 rd person plural |
Imperfect Indicative Passive of ἵημι
Short vowel grade stem, ἱε- , + past indicative augment + secondary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἱέμην (ῑ) |
I was being hurled, used to be
hurled |
1 st person singular |
| ἵεσο |
you were being hurled, used to be
hurled |
2 nd person singular |
| ἵετο |
he, she, it was being hurled, used
to be hurled |
3 rd person singular |
| ἱέμεθα |
we were being hurled, used to be
hurled |
1 st person plural |
| ἵεσθε |
you were being hurled, used to be
hurled |
2 nd person plural |
| ἵεντο |
they were being hurled, used to
be hurled |
3 rd person plural |
Aorist Indicative Active of ἵημι
Singular: ω-verb augmented stem, ἡκ- , + first aorist endings. Plural: short vowel grade stem, ἑ- , + past indicative augment, εἱ- , and secondary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| -ἧκα | I hurled | 1 st person singular |
| -ἧκας | you hurled | 2 nd person singular |
| -ἧκε (ν) | he, she, it hurled | 3 rd person singular |
| -εἷμεν | we hurled | 1 st person plural |
| -εἷτε | you hurled | 2 nd person plural |
| -εἷσαν | they hurled | 3 rd person plural |
Aorist Infinitive Active of ἵημι
Long vowel grade, εἱ- , + -ναι .
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| -εἷναι | to hurl | 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.
- Contrast εἷναι to hurl with εἶναι to be , noting that they differ only in breathing.
Aorist Indicative Middle of ἵημι
Short vowel grade, ἑ- , + past indicative augment, εἱ- , and secondary middle endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| -εἵμην | I hastened | 1 st person singular |
| -εἷσο | you hastened | 2 nd person singular |
| -εἷτο | he, she, it hastened | 3 rd person singular |
| -εἵμεθα | we hastened | 1 st person plural |
| -εἷσθε | you hastened | 2 nd person plural |
| -εἷντο | they hastened | 3 rd person plural |
Aorist Infinitive Middle of ἵημι
Short vowel grade, ἑ- , + -σθαι .
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| -ἕσθαι | to hasten | unmarked |
Aorist Indicative Passive of ἵημι
ω-verb augmented consonant stem, -εἱθ- , + ω-verb passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and number |
| -εἵθην | I was hurled | 1 st person singular |
| -εἵθης | you were hurled | 2 nd person singular |
| -εἵθη | he, she, it was hurled | 3 rd person singular |
| -εἵθημεν | we were hurled | 1 st person plural |
| -εἵθητε | you were hurled | 2 nd person plural |
| -εἵθησαν | they were hurled | 3 rd person plural |
Aorist Infinitive Passive of ἵημι
ω-verb unaugmented consonant stem, -ἑθ-, + -ηναι.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| -ἑθῆναι | to be hurled | 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.
The Conjugation of ἵστημι
The principal parts are these:
ἵστημι, στήσω, ἔστησα** and ἔστην***, ἕστηκα, ἕσταμαι, ἐστάθην
- Note that two asterisks** indicate a first aorist and three*** indicate a root aorist.
Present Indicative Active of ἵστημι
Singular: long vowel grade, ἱστη- , + primary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, ἱστα- , + primary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἵστημι | I make stand | 1 st person singular |
| ἵστης | you make stand | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵστησι (ν) | he, she, it makes stand | 3 rd person singular |
| ἵσταμεν | we make stand | 1 st person plural |
| ἵστατε | you make stand | 2 nd person plural |
| ἱστάᾱσι (ν), ἱστᾶσι (ν) | they make stand | 3 rd person plural |
- In the third person plural ἱστᾶσι (ν) , the alphas, α + α , have contracted.
Present Infinitive Active of ἵστημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱστα- , + -ναι .
ἱστάναι to make stand 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 ἵστημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱστα- , + primary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἵσταμαι | I stand | 1 st person singular |
| ἵστασαι | you stand | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵσταται | he, she, it stands | 3 rd person singular |
| ἱστάμεθα | we stand | 1 st person plural |
| ἵστασθε | you stand | 2 nd person plural |
| ἵστανται | they stand | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Middle of ἵστημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱστα- + -σθαι .
ἵστασθαι to stand 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 ἵστημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἵστα- , + primary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἵσταμαι | I am made to stand | 1 st person singular |
| ἵστασαι | you are made to stand | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵσταται | he, she, it is made to stand | 3 rd person singular |
| ἱστάμεθα | we are made to stand | 1 st person plural |
| ἵστασθε | you are made to stand | 2 nd person plural |
| ἵστανται | they are made to stand | 3 rd person plural |
Present Infinitive Passive of ἵστημι
Short vowel grade of the stem, ἱστα- , + -σθαι .
ἵστασθαι to be made to stand 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 ἵστημι
Singular: long vowel grade, ἱστη- , + past indicative augment and secondary active endings. Plural: short vowel grade, ἱστα- , + past indicative augment and secondary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἵστην (ῑ) | I was making to stand, used to make to stand | 1 st person singular |
| ἵστης | you were making to stand, used to make to stand | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵστη | he, she, it was making to stand, used to make to stand | 3 rd person singular |
| ἵσταμεν | we were making to stand, used to make to stand | 1 st person plural |
| ἵστατε | you were making to stand, used to make to stand | 2 nd person plural |
| ἵστασαν | they were making to stand, used to make to stand | 3 rd person plural |
Imperfect Indicative Middle of ἵστημι
Short vowel grade stem, ἵστα- , + past indicative augment and secondary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἱστάμην (ῑ) | I was standing, used to stand | 1 st person singular |
| ἵστασο | you were standing, used to stand | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵστατο |
he, she, it was standing, used to
stand |
3 rd person singular |
| ἱστάμεθα | we were standing, used to stand | 1 st person plural |
| ἵστασθε | you were standing, used to stand | 2 nd person plural |
| ἵσταντο | they were standing, used to stand | 3 rd person plural |
Imperfect Indicative Passive of ἵστημι
Short vowel grade stem, ἵστα- , + past indicative augment and secondary middle and passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἱστάμην (ῑ) | I was being made to stand, used to be made to stand | 1 st person singular |
| ἵστασο | you were being made to stand, used to be made to stand | 2 nd person singular |
| ἵστατο | he, she, it was being made to stand, used to be made to stand | 3 rd person singular |
| ἱστάμεθα | we were being made to stand, used to be made to stand | 1 st person plural |
| ἵστασθε | you were being made to stand, used to be made to stand | 2 nd person plural |
| ἵσταντο | they were being made to stand, used to be made to stand | 3 rd person plural |
Aorist Indicative Active of ἵστημι
Short vowel grade stem, στη- , + past indicative augment and secondary active endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἔστην | I stood | 1 st person singular |
| ἔστης | you stood | 2 nd person singular |
| ἔστη | he, she, it stood | 3 rd person singular |
| ἔστημεν | we stood | 1 st person plural |
| ἔστητε | you stood | 2 nd person plural |
| ἔστησαν | they stood | 3 rd person plural |
Aorist Infinitive Active of ἵστημι
Long vowel grade, στη- , + -ναι .
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| στῆναι | to stand | 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.
Aorist Indicative Passive of ἵστημι
ω-verb augmented consonant stem, ἐσταθ- , + ω-verb passive endings.
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and Number |
| ἐστάθην | I was made to stand | 1 st person singular |
| ἐστάθης | you were made to stand | 2 nd person singular |
| ἐστάθη | he, she, it was made to stand | 3 rd person singular |
| ἐστάθημεν | we were made to stand | 1 st person plural |
| ἐστάθητε | you were made to stand | 2 nd person plural |
| ἐστάθησαν | they were made to stand | 3 rd person plural |
Aorist Infinitive Passive of ἵστημι
ω-verb unaugmented consonant stem, σταθ- , + -ηναι .
| Verb Form | English Equivalent | Person and number |
| σταθῆναι | to be made to stand | 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.
Practice Translating Intransitive and Transitive Uses of ἵστημι . Remember that transitive verbs take an accusative direct object and intransitive verbs do not take a direct object. A common intransitive verb in Greek is ἔρχομαι . 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 these sentences, check your understanding with the answers in the Answer Key. After you have read though all of the sentences, read them again at least two more times. In each subsequent reading your understanding improves.
- Ἀλκμήνης τόκος ἔστη σιωπῇ (Euripides, Herakles).
- τροπαῖον ἔστησαν ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ (Thoukydides).
- ἔστη ʼπὶ βωμοῦ γοργὸς ὁπλίτης ἰδεῖν (Euripides, Andromakhe).
- ἔστη φαεννοῖς δεσπότης στίλβων ὅπλοις (Euripides, Andromakhe).
- ἔστησαν ἀνδριάντα πρὸ τῶν πυλῶν (Demosthenes).
- χαλκῆν εἰκόνα ἔστησαν (Demosthenes).
- παρελθὼν πρέσβυς ἐς μέσον πέδον ἔστη (Euripides, Ion).
- τὴν στήλην ἔστησαν εἰς τὸ βουλευτήριον (Lykourgos).
- τὸ μὲν ἥμισυ τῶν νεῶν ἔστησαν ἐν μέσῃ τῇ θαλάσσῃ (Appian).
- πᾶς στρατός τʼ ἔστη βλέπων (Euripides, Iphigeneia in Aulis).
Vocabulary
| Ἀλκμήνη, Ἀλκμήνης ἡ Alkmene, mother of Herakles | ὁράω, ὄψομαι, εἶδον see |
| ἀνδριάς, ἀνδριάντος ὁ statue | παρελθών, παρελθόντος ὁ entering |
| βλέπων, βλέποντος ὁ looking, watching | πέδον, πέδου τό ground, earth |
| βουλευτήριον, βουλευτηρίου τό senate-house | πρέσβῠς, -εος (-εως) ὁ old man, elder, ambassador |
| βωμός, βωμοῦ ὁ altar | πύλη, πύλης ἡ gates |
| γοργός, γοργή, γοργόν grim, fierce, terrible | σῐωπή, σῐωπῆς ἡ silence |
| δεσπότης, δεσπότου ὁ master, lord | στήλη, στήλης ἡ block, stone, slab, monument |
| εἰκών, εἰκόνος ἡ likeness, image, portrait, statue | στίλβων, στίλβοντος ὁ glistening, glittering, gleaming |
| ἥμῐσυς, ἡμίσεια, ἥμισυ half | στρατός, στρατοῦ ὁ army, host |
| ἤπειρος, ἠπείρου ἡ land | τόκος, τόκου ὁ childbirth; offspring |
| *θάλασσα (θάλαττα), θαλάσσης ἡ sea | τροπαῖον, τροπαίου τό trophy, victory monument |
| *μέσος, μέση, μέσον middle, middle of + gen.; ἐς μέσον in common, altogether | φαεννός, -ή, -όν shining, beaming, radiant |
| *νηῦς (ναῦς), νεός (νεώς) ἡ ship | χαλκῆ, χαλκῆς ἡ (sc. εἰκών) bronze statue |
| ὅπλον, ὅπλου τό weapon |
Practice Translating μι-verbs . Translate the below sentences and narrative, adapted from a variety of ancient Greek writers. To come to an accurate understanding of the sentences, use your knowledge of endings and of 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 the sentences, check your understanding with the answers in the Answer Key. After you have read though all of the sentences and all of the narrative, read them again at least two more times. In each subsequent reading your understanding improves.
- ἀλλὰ θεοὶ γὰρ κακοῖς, ὦ φίλ᾽, ἐπὶ κρατερὴν τλημοσύνην ἔθεσαν φάρμακον· ἄλλοτε τ’ ἄλλος ἔχει τάδε (Arkhilokhos).
- πάντα Τύχη καὶ Μοῖρα ἀνδρὶ διδόασιν ἀλλὰ καὶ δῆλον πάντα τεύχειν πόνον θνητοῖς μελέτην τε βροτείαν (Arkhilokhos).
- oὔ μοι τὰ Γύγου τοῦ πολυχρύσου μέλει, μεγάλης δ᾽ οὐκ ἐράω τυραννίδος· ταῦτα ἀπόπροθεν γάρ ἐστι ὀφθαλμῶν ἐμῶν. δεῖ ἐμοὶ οἶνον παλαιὸν καὶ λόγον καλὸν καὶ σῖτον καὶ ἑταίραν ἔχειν (Arkhilokhos).
- ἓν δὲ βέλτιστον, ὃς κακὰ ἐμὲ ἐποίησε, τοῦτον δέννοις ἀντιδοῦναι κακοῖς (Arkhilokhos).
- τῶν θεῶν Ζεὺς μάντις ἀψευδέστατος καὶ τέλος τῶν πάντων αὐτὸς ἔχει καὶ πάντα θνητοῖς καὶ καλὰ καὶ κακὰ δίδωσιν.
- βέλτιστα μηκέτ᾽ εἶναι νὴ Δία μήτε Πελοποννησίους μήτε Βοιωτίους πάντας πλὴν τῶν ἐγχέλεων (Aristophanes).
- οὐ γὰρ τούτοις ἡδονὴ οἳ προτιθέασι βίαν ἀντὶ μήτιδος.
- πολὺ κάλλιον τοὺς μὲν νόμους τοὺς ἄδικούς τε καὶ παλαιοὺς λῦσαι, ἑτέρους δὲ θεῖναι, οἵ τοὺς τῆς πόλεως φυλάξουσιν (Lysias).
- οἳ καλῶς ἔχουσι τῇ πολιτείᾳ, τούτους μὲν τοὺς νόμους δεῖ θεῖναι, τοὺς δὲ οἳ αὐτῶν ὀλιγωροῦσι κολάζειν.
- ἀγαθὸν ἱστάναι πρὸς ἀργύριον φιλίαν καὶ προτιθέναι τοὺς φίλους ἀντὶ τῶν χρημάτων.
Adverbs, Conjunctions, Prepositions, and Verbs
| ἄλλοτε at another time | μέλω, μελήσω, ἐμέλησα be an object of care to + dat. πᾶσι μέλω I am a care to all; care for, attend to + gen. |
| ἀντιδίδωμι give in return, pay | μηκέτι no more, no longer, no further |
| ἀπόπροθεν from afar | νή by + acc. |
|
*δεῖ
it is necessary + ‘x’ in gen. or dat. or acc. + inf.,
δεῖ ἐλθεῖν
it is necessary
to come |
ὀλιγωρέω esteem little, make small account of, belittle, despise + gen. |
| *δίδωμι, δώσω, ἔδωκα give; allow ‘x’ in dat. or acc. + inf., ἐμὲ (έμοί) εὐτυχέειν δίδως you allow me to prosper | πλήν except, save + gen.; (adv.) and yet |
| ἐράω love; long for, desire + gen. | *ποιέω, ποιήσω, ἐποίησα do, make, cause; (mid.) consider |
| *ἔχω, ἕξω or σχήσω, ἔσχον have, hold; be able + inf.; καλῶς ἔχειν to be well | προτίθημι place before; set before; display; offer |
| *ἵστημι, στήσω, ἔστησα or ἔστην stand, make stand, place | ῥάπτω stitch, sew |
| καλῶς well | τεύχω, τεύξω, ἔτευξα make ready, make, produce; cause, bring to pass |
| κολάζω, κολάσω, ἐκόλασα punish, check, correct; dock, prune | *τίθημι, θήσω, ἔθηκα put, place; make, cause |
| λύω (ῡ), λύσω, ἔλῡσα loose, free, destroy; (mid.) ransom | φυλάττω, φυλάξω, ἐφύλαξα keep watch and ward, keep guard; watchfully await; φυλάττειν μὴ ποιεῖν to take care not to do, to guard against doing; φυλάττειν τοῦτο μὴ γενέσθαι to guard that this not happen |
Adjectives and Nouns
| *ἀγαθός, ἀγαθή, ἀγαθόν good, noble | *λόγος, λόγου ὁ word, speech, story; reason, account |
| ἀδικός, ἀδικόν unjust | μάντις, μάντεως ὁ seer, prophet |
| *ἄλλος, ἄλλη, ἄλλο another, other | μελέτη, μελέτης ἡ care, practice |
| *ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός ὁ man, husband | μῆτις, μήτιος ἡ wisdom, cunning |
| ἀργύριον, ἀργυρίου τό silver | μοῖρα, μοίρας ἡ lot; portion; fate |
| ἀψευδέστατος, ἀψευδεστάτη, ἀψευδέστατον most unfalse | *νόμος, νόμου ὁ law, custom |
| βέλτιστος, βελτίστη, βέλτιστον best | οἶνος, οἴνου ὁ wine |
| βία, βίας ἡ bodily force, strength | ὀφθαλμός, ὀφθαλμοῦ ὁ eye |
| Βοιώτιος, Βοιωτίᾱ, Βοιώτιον of or from Boiotia, a region of Greece | παλαιός, παλαιά, παλαιόν old, ancient |
| βρότειος, βρότειον (-ος, -ᾱ, -ον) mortal | *πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν all, each, every, whole |
| Γύγης, -ου (-εω) ὁ Gyges, king of Lydia | Πελοποννήσιος, Πελοποννησίᾱ, Πελοποννήσιον Peloponnesian |
| δέννος, δέννου ὁ reproach, disgrace | *πόλις, πόλιος (πόληος, πόλεως) ἡ city |
| δῆλος, δήλη, δῆλον visible, clear | πολιτείᾱ, πολιτείᾱς ἡ government |
| ἔγχελυς, ἔγχέλεως ἡ eel | πολύχρυσος, πολύχρυσον rich in gold |
| *ἐμός, ἐμή, ἐμόν my | πόνος, πόνου ὁ hard work, suffering |
| ἑταίρα, ἑταίρας ἡ a companion | σῖτος, σίτου ὁ (pl. σῖτα τά) grain, food, bread |
| *ἕτερος, ἑτέρᾱ, ἕτερον other, another | *τέλος, τέλεος (τέλους) τό end, boundary; power; office; (acc.) finally |
| *Ζεύς, Διός ὁ Zeus | τλημοσύνη, τλημοσύνης ἡ misery; endurance |
| ἡδονή, ἡδονῆς ἡ pleasure | τυραννίς, τυραννίδος ἡ tyranny |
| *θεός, θεοῦ ἡ ὁ god, goddess, deity | τύχη, τύχης ἡ fortune, luck, fate |
| θνητός, θνητή, θνητόν mortal | φάρμακον, φαρμάκου τό drug, cure |
| *κακός, κακή, κακόν bad, evil, cowardly | φιλία, φιλίας ἡ friendship |
| καλλίων, κάλλιον lovelier, better | *φίλος, φίλη, φίλον friendly, kind, well-disposed + dat.; (n.) friend |
| *κάλος, κάλου ὁ cable, rope | *χρῆμα, χρήματος τό thing; (pl.) goods, money, propert |
| κρατερός, κρατερά, κρατερόν strong, stout, mighty |
- 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: ἐγὼ δὲ εἰς τὴν ὑστεραίαν ὡς ἐκεῖνός τι κατὰ τὴν ἀγορὰν πραγματεύεται ἔλαβον τὸ ὕπερον καὶ ἐσχημάτισα ὁμοίως. ἔπειτα ἐπειπὼν τὰς συλλαβὰς ἐκέλευσα ὑδροφορέειν. τὸ δὲ ἐνέπλησε τὸν ἀμφορέα καὶ ἐκόμισε. ἐκέλευσα τούτῳ παῦσαι καὶ μηκέτι ὑδροφορέειν καὶ αὖθις ὕπερον ποιεῖσθαι. τὸ δὲ οὐκέτι μοι πείθεσθαι ἐθέλει, ἀλλ’ ὑδροφορεῖ ἀεί. ἄχρι δὴ ἐμπίπλησι ἡμῖν ὕδατος τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ ἡ δὲ ἐπαντλεῖται. ἐγὼ δὲ ἀμηχανάω τῷ πράγματι καὶ δείδω. εἰ ὁ Παγκράτης ἐπανέρχεται, ἀγανακτήσει. τοῦτο ὅπερ καὶ ἐγένετο. ἀξίνην ἔλαβον καὶ διακόπτω τὸ ὕπερον εἰς δύο μέρη. τὰ δέ, ἑκάτερον τὸ μέρος, ἀμφορέας ἔλαβε καὶ ὑδροφόρει καὶ ἀνθ’ ἑνὸς δύο μοι ἐγένοντο οἱ διάκονοι. ἐν τούτῳ καὶ ὁ Παγκράτης ἦλθε καὶ συνίησι τὸ γενόμενον. ἐκεῖνα μὲν αὖθις ἐποίησε ξύλα, ὥσπερ ἦν πρὸ τῆς ἐπῳδῆς. αὐτὸς δὲ ἀπέλιπέ με λαθών. καὶ οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅποι ἀφανὴς ᾤχετο.
Δεινόμαχος: δύνασαι ἄνθρωπον ποιεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ὑπέρου;
Εὐκράτης: νὴ Δί’ ἐξ ἡμισείας γε· οὐκέτι γὰρ εἰς τὸ ἀρχαῖον οἷος τέ εἰμι ἀπάγειν αὐτό, εἰ ἅπαξ γίγνεται ὑδροφόρος. ἀλλὰ δεήσει ἡμῖν ἐπικλυσθῆναι τὴν οἰκίαν.
Adverbs, Prepositions, and Verbs
| ἀγανακτέω feel irritation | ἅπαξ once |
| ἀμηχανάω be at a loss | ἀπέρχομαι, -ελεύσομαι, -ῆλθον depart, leave |
| ἀπάγω, -άξω, -ήγαγον lead away; carry off | ἀπολείπω, -λείψω, -έλιπον leave |
| αὖθις (αὖτις) again, in turn, hereafter, in the future | κομίζω, κομιέω, ἐκόμισα take care of; carry, convey; (mid.) acquire |
| ἄχρι to the uttermost | *λαμβάνω, λήψομαι, ἔλαβον take, receive; capture |
| *γίγνομαι, γενήσομαι, ἐγενόμην be, be born, happen, become | μηκέτι no more, no longer, no further |
| *δεῖ, δεήσει it is necessary + dat. or acc. + inf. | νή by + acc. |
| δείδω, δείσω, ἔδεισα fear, be afraid, dread | οἴχομαι, οἰχήσομαι, ------ go, be gone, have gone |
| διακόπτω cut in two, cut through | ὅποι to where, wither |
| *δύναμαι I am able | οὐκέτι no more, no longer, no further |
| *ἐθέλω, ἐθελήσω, ἠθέλησα wish, be willing | ὀψωνέω buy fish and dainties |
| ἐμπίμπλημι, -πλήσω, -ἔπλησα, fill, fill up; fill ‘x’ (a person or thing) in acc. with ‘y’ a thing in gen. | παύω, παύσω, ἔπαυσα make to end, stop; stop ‘x’ in acc. from ‘y’ in gen. |
| ἐπανέρχομαι return | *πείθω, πείσω, ἔπεισα persuade + inf.; (mid. or pass.) listen to, obey + dat. or gen. |
| ἐπαντλέω pump over, pour over, cause to overflow | *ποιέω, ποιήσω, ἐποίησα do, make, cause; (mid.) consider |
| ἐπικλύζω overflow, flood | πραγματεύομαι busy oneself, take trouble |
| ἐπιλέγω say, utter, pronounce; pick out, choose; (mid.) think over, consider; read | συνίημι send together; perceive; understand |
| *ἔρχομαι, ἐλεύσομαι, ἦλθον come, go | σχηματίζω assume a certain form, figure, posture; shape, fashion; dress up |
| *ἦν he, she, it was | ὑδροφορέω carry water |
| *κελεύω, κελεύσω, ἐκέλευσα bid, order, command |
Adjectives, Nouns, and Pronouns
| ἀγορά, ἀγορᾶς ἡ agora, marketplace | ἡμισεία, ἡμισείας ἡ half |
| ἀμφορεύς, ἀμφορέως ὁ amphora, jar, urn | λαθών, λαθόντος ὁ secretly, by stealth |
| *ἄνθρωπος, ἀνθρώπου ἡ ὁ human, person | *μέρος, μέρεος (-ους) τό share, portion, part; limb; one’s turn |
| ἀξίνη, ἀξίνης ἡ axe-head, axe | ξύλον, ξύλου τό : stick, club |
| ἀρχαῖος, -α, -ον ancient, from the beginning | οἰκία, οἰκίας ἡ house |
| ἀφανής, ἀφανές unseen, invisible; hidden, secret |
*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 |
| γενόμενον, γενομένου τό having happened | Παγκράτης, Παγκράτου ὁ Pankrates |
| διάκονος, διακόνου ὁ servant | *πρᾶγμα, πράγματος τό matter, thing, affair; problem |
| *δύο two | συλλαβή, συλλαβῆς ἡ that which holds together; syllable |
| *ἑκάτερος, ἑκατέρᾱ, ἑκάτερον each | ὑδροφόρος, ὑδροφόρου ὁ water-carrier |
| ἐπειπών, ἐπειπόντος ὁ speaking, having spoken | ὕδωρ, ὕδατος τό water |
| ἐπῳδή, ἐπῳδῆς ἡ enchantment, spell, charm | ὕπερον, ὑπέρου τό pestle |
| *Ζεύς, Διός ὁ Zeus | ὑστεραῖος, ὑστεραίᾱ, ὑστεραῖον next, following; ὑστεραίᾳ on the next day |
- 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.
ὁρῶ ὅτι ταύτην μὲν οὖν χρὴ νομίζειν οὐ τὴν αἰτίαν τῶν πάντων κακῶν εἶναι.
δύνασαι ἄνθρωπον ποιεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ὑπέρου;
Check your answers with those in the Answer Key.
Sappho of Lesbos, Σαπφώ Λέσβου, c. 630–570 BCE . Regarded in antiquity as the tenth Muse, Sappho and her poetry are widely praised for their lyrical excellence. Time has taken from us most of what Sappho wrote and left to us even less information about her life. She is said to have had three brothers, two of whom, Kharaxos and Larikhos, she mentions in the poem below. This poem, preserved in writing on papyrus and referred to as the Brother’s Poem, was recently discovered. It was dug up by tomb raiders. From it, the classicist and papyrologist, Dirk Obbink reconstructed the Greek text. For a view of the fragment un-punctuated and not corrected, follow this link:
Soppho Poem 1
To Dirk Obbink’s text, I have added vocabulary, notes, and a translation.
Meter (__ = a long vowel; u = a short vowel; x = anceps, a long or short vowel):
__ u __ x __ u u __ u __ __
__ u __ x __ u u __ u __ __
__ u __ x __ u u __ u __ __
__ u u __ u
|
ἀλλ’ ἄϊ θρύλησθα Χάραξον ἔλθην νᾶϊ σὺν πλήαι. τὰ μέν, οἴομαι, Ζεῦς οἶδε σύμπαντές τε θέοι· σὲ δ᾽οὐ χρῆ ταῦτα νόησθαι, |
*ἄϊ = αἰεί
ever, always
θρύλησθα you babble Χάραξος, ου ὁ Kharaxos, Sappho’s brother *ἔλθην = ἐλθεῖν to come *νᾶϊ = νηί: ναῦς, νεώς ἡ ship πλήαι = πλέᾳ: πλέος, -α, -ον full τὰ μέν these things οἴομαι think Ζεῦς = Ζεύς νοέω think on, consider χρῆ = χρή it is necessary |
|
ἀλλὰ καὶ πέμπην ἔμε καὶ κέλεσθαι πόλλα λίσσεσθαι βασίληαν Ἤραν ἐξίκεσθαι τυίδε σάαν ἄγοντα νᾶα Χάραξον |
πέμπην = πέμπειν
to send
κέλομαι order, command; call λίσσομαι pray βασίληαν = βασιλείαν royal, kingly Ἤρα, Ἤρας ἡ Hera ἐξικνέομαι arrive τυίδε here σάος, -α, -ον safe ἄγων, ἄγοντος ὁ driving νᾶα = ναῦν: ναῦς, νεώς ἡ ship |
_____________
1 http://web.archive.org/web/201401302...pho7.draft.pdf .
|
κἄμμ’ ἐπεύρην ἀρτέμεας. τὰ δ’ ἄλλα πάντα δαιμόνεσσιν ἐπιτρόπωμεν· εὐδίαι γὰρ ἐκ μεγάλαν ἀήταν αἶψα πέλονται. |
κἄμμ’ = καὶ ἄμμε = καὶ ἡμᾶς
ἐπεύρην = ἐπευρεῖν to find ἀρτεμής, ές safe δαίμων, -ονος ὁ or ἡ god, goddess ἐπιτρόπωμεν = ἐπιτρέπωμεν let us entrust εὐδία, -ας ἡ fair weather μεγάλαν = μεγάλων ἀήταν = ἀητῶν: ἀήτης, -ου ὁ gale, wind αἶψα quickly πέλομαι be |
|
τῶν κε βόλληται βασίλευς Ὀλύμπω *δαίμον’ ἐκ πόνων ἐπάρωγον ἤδη περτρόπην, κῆνοι μάκαρες πέλονται καὶ πολύολβοι· |
τῶν κε = ὧν ἄν
whosoever’s
βόλληται = βούληται wishes Ὀλύμπω = Ὀλύμπου: Ὄλυμπος, -ου ὁ Olympos δαίμων, -ονος ὁ or ἡ god, goddess πόνος, -ου ὁ pain, toil ἐπάρωγος, -οῦ ὁ helper, aider περτρόπην = περιτροπέειν turn κῆνοι = κεῖνοι μακάρ, -άρος blessed πολύολβος, -ον rich, wealthy |
|
**κἄμμες, αἴ κε τὰν κεφάλαν ἀέρρη Λάριχος καὶ δή ποτ᾽ ἄνηρ γένηται, καὶ μάλ’ ἐκ πόλλαν βαρυθυμίαν κεν αἶψα λύθειμεν. |
κἄμμες = καὶ ἡμεῖς
αἴ κε = εἰ ἄν κεφάλαν = κεφάλην: κεφάλη, κεφάλης ἡ head ἀέρρη = ἀείρῃ raises Λάριχος, Λαρίχου ὁ Larikhos , Sappho’s brother ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός ὁ man, husband γένηται becomes πόλλαν = πόλλων βαρυθυμίαν = βαρυθυμίων: βαρυθυμία, βαρυθυμίας heavy heart λύθειμεν we would be freed |
Variant Readings:
*δαίμον’ ἐκ πόνων ἐπ’ ἀρηγον’ ἤδη περτρόπην: turn their daimon away from toils toward a helper.
**αἴ κε τὰν κεφάλαν ἀέργης/ Λάριχος καὶ δή ποτ᾽ ἄνηρ γένηται: if lazyheaded Larikhos every really becomes a man.
Prose Translation
You constantly go on about Kharaxos coming home with a full ship. Things which, I think, Zeus and all the other gods know and which you need not think on. Rather send and order me to offer many a prayer to our royal Hera that Kharaxos return at the helm of a safe ship and find us sound. All the rest we entrust to the gods. For calm from great storms quickly ensues. Whosoever’s fate Olympian Zeus wishes now to turn from trouble to triumph, presently becomes fortunate and blessed. But for us, should Larikhos lift his head and ever really become a man, then surely right away we would be freed from great despair.
Module 30 Top 250 Vocabulary to be Memorized . 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 and Adverb
ἄν
(adverb or particle) indicates something hypothetical, non-factual, or with the indicative something repeated over time
δύο
two
ἕκαστος, ἑκάστη, ἕκαστον
each
ἴσος, ἴση, ἴσον
equal, as many as; similar to + dat.
καλός, καλή, καλόν
beautiful, noble, good
ὅμοιος, ὁμοίᾱ, ὅμοιον
like, resembling + dat.
τρεῖς, οἱ, αἱ; τρία τά
three
Verb
ζάω (ζῇς, ζῇ), ζήσω, ἔζησα, ἔζηκα, ------, ------ live, breathe, be full of life
Etymology Corner XXX by Dr. E. Del Chrol
Technical Terms 26
Satura Lanx. Module 13 has given us some technical terms you may never have heard before to describe the changes some vowels go through, here in relation to nouns in
declension.
Ablaut, contraction
, the
loss of the intervocalic sigma
or
digamma
, or
quantitative metathesis
seem less scary when you match their process to their etymologies.
- Ablaut comes from the German off-sound and indicates a vowel variation, the vowel sounds different , or is off from the primary sound like the shift from the long to the short sounds in μητηρ- and μητερ- .
- Contraction is when two vowels are dragged together ( trahere , like how a tractor drags a plow, or when you click the back of a pen the point retracts, that is, is dragged back into the body of the ballpoint + con , which we’ve met a bunch of times before).
- Intervocalic means a letter in between ( inter ) two vowels ( voces / voice ). Look at the genitive of Σωκράτης , it’s either Σωκράτεος or Σωκράτους . The second one is because the sigma at the end of Σωκράτης once upon a time stuck around on the stem in the declension and endings were added to it. The sigma in between those two vowels went away over time, and when you contract an ε with an ο you get the diphthong ου . Hence Σωκράτε(σ)ος became Σωκράτους .
- Quantitative metathesis is kind of like a centaur, half Latin and half Greek. I’ll leave it to you to figure out which half is the human and which the horse. You can see the English quantity ( amount ) in quantitative , which derives from quantus , a Latin question word meaning how much? . Metathesis is from two super popular Greek words. Θέσις , from τίθημι , to place or put , we’ve already met both in the chapters and in our discussion of prepositions. Μετά has a couple different meanings, but its primary sense is after. For example, Aristotle’s work The Metaphysics was so named because it came after his work The Physics . No, seriously, that’s why it got that name. Μετά over time accretes some complex meanings like change or transcending , but in all senses originates with the idea that the μετά thing comes after. A metamorphosis is the shape ( μορφή ) that comes after a change, like a butterfly after the cocoon phase. Thus in grammar a metathesis is the transposition of vowel length (quantity ). The genitive of πόλις can be πόληος (ending with a long-short) or it can get transposed into πόλεως (ending with a short and long vowel).
What to Study and Do 30. Before moving on to Ancient Greek II: A 21st-Century Approach, make sure that you have memorized the endings for μι-verbs and that you understand how to translate and identify each form.
Learning Tip 30: What is Mind? Einstein wrote that the mind is revealed in the world. His imagining of a world with a unified coherence led to his overcoming the normal point of view of his own time and to a completely new and radical conceptual system that predicted among other things the relativity of time, one consequence of which is that the past, present, and future all currently exist. At some future point Einstein’s conceptual system will lead to another’s. And so it will go. Today’s fundamental questions will give way to other fundamental questions of tomorrow. For thousands of years what is mind has captured the imagination of many of the world’s thinkers. Is the mind a complex and recreatable arrangement of neurons that results in consciousness? Will artificial intelligence have the ability to think deeply and create new and radical conceptual systems? Is the mind something fundamentally different and impossible for us to create artificially? Is there a superconsciousness that exists in the universe, that creativity forms a part of and that we can experience? As time passes, we continue to work on creating conceptual systems to answer these questions.