ADJECTIVES
[*] 1018. Adjectives modify substantives (including words used substantively,
908), and substantive pronouns. Adjectives are either
attributive (
912) or
predicate (
910).
[*] 1019. The equivalents of an adjective are: a participle (
οἱ παρόντες πολῖται the citizens who are present); a noun in apposition (
Δημοσθένης ὁ ῥήτωρ Demosthenes the orator, i.e. not
Δημοσθένης ὁ στρατηγός, ὑ_μεῖς οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι you Athenians); an oblique case (
στέφανος χρυ_σοῦ a crown of gold,
τῆς αὐτῆς γνώμης ἐγώ I am likeminded); an oblique case with a preposition (
αἱ ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ πόλεις the cities in Asia); an adverb (
οἱ πάλαι the ancients). (Furthermore, a clause in a complex sentence:
τὸ τείχισμα, ὃ ἦν αὐτόθι, αἱροῦσι they captured the fortress which was there; cp.
2542.)
[*] 1020.
Concord.—An adjective agrees with its substantive in gender, number, and case. This holds true also of the article, adjective pronouns, and participles: thus, A.
Attributive: ὁ δίκαιος ἀνήρ the just man,
τοῦ δικαίου ἀνδρός, τὼ δικαίω ἄνδρε, οἱ δίκαιοι ἄνδρες, etc.,
οὗτος ὁ ἀνήρ this man,
τούτου τοῦ ἀνδρός, etc.,
ἡ φιλοῦσα θυγάτηρ the loving daughter. B.
Predicate: καλὸς ὁ ἀγών the prize is glorious,
ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ these things are true, ““
αἱ ἄρισται δοκοῦσαι εἶναι φύσεις”
the natures which seem to be best”
X. M. 4.1.3.
On the agreement of demonstrative pronouns used adjectively with a predicate substantive, see
1239. For relative pronouns, see
2501.
ATTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVES
ADJECTIVES USED SUBSTANTIVELY
[*] 1021. An attributive adjective (or participle) generally with the article, often dispenses with its substantive, and thus itself acquires the value of a substantive.
a. This occurs when the substantive may be supplied from the context; when it is a general notion; or when it is omitted in common expressions of a definite character, when the ellipsis is conscious.
[*] 1022. Masculine or feminine, when the substantive is a person:
ὁ δίκαιος the just man,
δίκαιος a just man,
οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι the Athenians,
οἱ πολλοί the many,
the rabble,
οἱ ὀλίγοι the oligarchical party,
οἱ βουλόμενοι all who will,
ἡ καλή the beautiful woman,
ἡ τεκοῦσα the mother (poet.,
E. Alc. 167),
ἐκκλησιάζουσαι women in assembly.
[*] 1023. Neuter, when the substantive idea is
thing in general:
τὸ ἀγαθόν the (highest)
good P. R. 506b (but ““
τὰ ἀγαθά”
good things”
L. 12.33), ““
τὸ ἀληθές”
truth”
P. G. 473b,
τὸ κοινόν the commonwealth Ant. 3.
β. 3, ““
τὸ ἐσόμενον”
the future”
Aes. 3.165, ““
τὸ λεγόμενον”
as the saying is”
T. 7.68, ““
ἀμφὶ μέσον ἡμέρα_ς”
about mid-day”
X. A. 4.4.1, ““
ἐπὶ πολύ”
over a wide space”
T. 1.18.
[*] 1024. In words denoting a collection (
996) of persons or facts: ““
τὸ ὑπήκοον”
the subjects”
T. 6.69, ““
τὸ βαρβαρικόν”
the barbarian force”
X. A. 1.2.1, ““
τὸ ξυμμαχικόν”
the allied forces”
T. 4.77 (and many words in
-ικόν), ““
τὰ Ἑλληνικά”
Greek history”
T. 1.97; and in words denoting
festivals (““
τὰ Ὀλύμπια”
the Olympian games”
X. H. 7.4.28).
[*] 1025. With participles, especially in Thucydides: ““
τὸ ὀργιζόμενον τῆς ὀργῆς”
their angry feelings”
T. 2.59,
τῆς πόλεως τὸ τι_μώμενον the dignity of the State 2. 63. The action of the verb is here represented as taking place under particular circumstances or at a particular time. These participles are not dead abstractions, but abstract qualities in action.
[*] 1026. A substantivized adjective may appear in the neuter plural as well as in the neuter singular: ““
τὰ δεξιὰ τοῦ κέρα_τος”
the right of the wing”
X. A. 1.8.4, ““
τῆς Σαλαμῖνος τὰ πολλά”
the greater part of Salamis”
T. 2.94,
ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἀνθρώπων to the greatest part of mankind 1. 1,
ἐς τοῦτο δυστυχία_ς to this degree of misfortune 7. 86 (cp.
1325).
a. On the construction of ““
τῆς γῆς ἡ πολλή”
the greater part of the land”
T. 2.56, see
1313.
[*] 1027. In common expressions a definite noun is often implied (such as
ἡμέρα_ day,
ὁδός way,
χείρ hand).
a. Masculine:
κόλπος gulf,
ὁ Ἰόνιος the Ionian gulf
T. 6.34,
στρατός force,
ὁ πεζός the land force 1. 47.
b. Feminine:
γῆ land (
χώρα_ country）—
ἀπὸ τῆς ἑαυτῶν from their own country
T. 1.15;
οὔθ᾽ ἡ Ἑλλὰς οὔθ᾽ ἡ βάρβαρος neither Greece nor barbaric land
D. 9.27;
γνώμη judgment: κατὰ τὴν ἐμήν according to my opinion
Ar. Eccl. 153,
ἐκ τῆς νι_κώσης according to the prevailing opinion
X. A. 6.1.18;
δίκη suit: ““
ἐρήμην κατηγοροῦντες”
bringing an accusation in a case where there is no defence”
P. A. 18c;
ἡμέρα_ day: ““
τὴν ὑστεραία_ν”
the next day”
X. C. 1.2.11, ““
τῇ προτεραίᾳ”
the day before”
L. 19.22;
κέρας wing: τὸ εὐώνυμον the left wing
T. 4.96;
μερίς part: εἰκοστή a twentieth 6. 54;
μοῖρα portion: ἡ πεπρωμένη (
I. 10.61) or
ἡ εἱμαρμένη (
D. 18.205)
the allotted portion, destiny; ναῦς ship: ἡ τριήρης the ship
with three banks of oars; ὁδός way: εὐθείᾳ by the straight road
P. L. 716a,
τὴν ταχίστην by the shortest way
X. A. 1.3.14;
τέχνη art: μουσική the art of
music P. L. 668a;
χείρ hand: ἐν δεξιᾷ on the right hand
X. A. 1.5.1,
ἐξ ἀριστέρα_ς on the left 4. 8. 2;
ψῆφος vote: ““
τὴν ἐναντία_ν Νι_κίᾳ ἔθετο”
he voted in opposition to Nicias”
P. Lach. 184d.
[*] 1028. The context often determines the substantive to be supplied:
τοῦτον ἀνέκραγον ὡς ὀλίγα_ς (
πληγὰ_ς)
παίσειεν they shouted that he had dealt him (too,
1063)
few blows
X. A. 5.8.12,
τρία τάλαντα καὶ χι_λία_ς (
δραχμά_ς)
three talents and a thousand drachmas
D. 27.34; cp.
a dollar and twenty (cents). Cp.
1572.
[*] 1029. From such substantivized adjectives arose many prepositional and adverbial expressions of whose source the Greeks themselves had probably lost sight. Many of these seem to be analogues of phrases once containing
ὁδός: ““
τὴν ἄλλως ψηφίζεσθε”
you vote to no purpose”
D. 19.181 (i.e.
the way leading
elsewhere than the goal), ““
ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης”
at the very beginning”
T. 7.43,
ἀπὸ τῆς ἴσης on an equality 1. 15,
ἐξ ἐναντία_ς from an opposite direction, facing 7. 44.
AGREEMENT OF ATTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVES
[*] 1030. An attributive adjective belonging to more than one substantive agrees with the nearest: ““
τὸν καλὸν κἀ_γαθὸν ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα εὐδαίμονα εἶναί φημι”
the perfect man and woman are happy I maintain”
P. G. 470e. In some cases it is repeated with each substantive (often for emphasis): ““
ἓν σῶμ᾽ ἔχων καὶ ψυ_χὴν μίαν”
having one body and one soul”
D. 19.227.
[*] 1031. But occasionally the adjective agrees with the more important substantive: ““
ὁ σίγλος δύναται ἑπτὰ ὀβολοὺς καὶ ἡμιωβόλιον Ἀττικούς”
the siglus is worth seven and a half Attic obols”
X. A. 1.5.6.
[*] 1032. Of two adjectives with one substantive, one may stand in closer relation to the substantive, while the other qualifies the expression thus formed: ““
πόλις ἐρήμη μεγάλη”
a large deserted-city”
X. A. 1.5.4.
[*] 1033. If one substantive has several attributive adjectives, these are sometimes added without a conjunction (by
Asyndeton):
κρέα_ ἄρνεια, ἐρίφεια, χοίρεια flesh of lambs, kids,
swine X. A. 4.5.31. This is commoner in poetry, especially when the adjectives are descriptive:
ἔγχος βρι_θὺ μέγα στιβαρόν a spear heavy, huge,
stout Π 141.
[*] 1034. Two adjectives joined by
καί may form one combined notion in English, which omits the conjunction. So often with
πολύς to emphasize the idea of plurality: ““
πολλὰ κἀ_γαθά”
many blessings”
X. A. 5.6.4, ““
πολλὰ καὶ δεινά”
many dreadful sufferings”
D. 37.57.
a. καλὸς κἀ_γαθός means
an aristocrat (in the political sense), or is used of
a perfect quality or
action (in the moral sense) as
T. 4.40,
P. A. 21d.
[*] 1035. An attributive adjective is often used in poetry instead of the attributive genitive:
βίη Ἡρα_κληείη B 658
the might of Heracles (cp. “a Niobean daughter” Tennyson); rarely in prose: ““
ποταμός, εὖρος πλεθριαῖος”
a river, a plethron in width”
X. A. 4.6.4.
[*] 1036. An attributive adjective belonging logically to a dependent genitive is often used in poetry with a governing substantive: ““
νεῖκος ἀνδρῶν ξύναιμον”
kindred strife of men”
S. A. 793 (for
strife of kindred men). Rarely in prose in the case of the possessive pronoun: ““
ἐν τῷ ὑ_μετέρῳ ἀσθενεῖ τῆς γνώμης”
in the weakness of your purpose”
T. 2.61.
[*] 1037. An attributive adjective may dispense with its substantive when that substantive is expressed in the context:
μετέχει τῆς καλλίστης (
τέχνης) ““
τῶν τεχνῶν”
he shares in the fairest of the arts”
P. G. 448c.
[*] 1038. A substantivized participle may take the genitive rather than the case proper to the verb whence it is derived: ““
βασιλέως προσήκοντες”
relations of the king”
T. 1.128; contrast ““
Περικλῆς ὁ ἐμοὶ προσήκων”
Pericles my relation”
X. H. 1.7.21.
[*] 1039. Adjectives used substantively may take an attributive: ““
οἱ ὑ_μέτεροι δυσμενεῖς”
your enemies”
X. H. 5.2.33.
PREDICATE ADJECTIVES
[*] 1040. The predicate adjective is employed
a. With intransitive verbs signifying
to be, become, and the like (
917): ““
ἡ δὲ χάρις ἄδηλος γεγένηται”
the favour has been concealed”
Aes. 3.233. So with active verbs which take a preposition: ““
νόμους ἔθεσθε ἐπ᾽ ἀδήλοις τοῖς ἀδικήσουσι”
you have enacted laws with regard to offenders who are unknown”
D. 21.30.
b. With transitive verbs: (1) to qualify the object of the verb directly and immediately: ““
τοὺς κακοὺς χρηστοὺς νομίζειν”
to judge bad men good”
S. O. T. 609, (2) to express the result of the action (the proleptic use,
1579). So with
αὔξειν grow,
αἴρειν raise with
μέγας great,
μετέωρος on high,
ὑψηλός high,
μακρός large.
[*] 1041. With verbs of saying and thinking the predicate adjective is usually connected with its noun by
εἶναι, with verbs of perceiving, showing, by
ὤν (
2106): ““
οὐδένα γὰρ οἶμαι δαιμόνων εἶναι κακόν”
for I think no one of the gods is base”
E. I. T. 391, ““
δηλοῖ ψευδῆ τὴν διαθήκην οὖσαν”
it shows that the will is false”
D. 45.34. But
εἶναι is sometimes omitted (
945), as ““
τὰ_ς γὰρ καλὰ_ς πρά_ξεις ἁπά_σα_ς ἀγαθὰ_ς ὡμολογήσαμεν”
for we have agreed that all honourable actions are good”
P. Pr. 359e. On the omission of
ὤν, see
2117. For
εἶναι with verbs of naming and calling, see
1615.
[*] 1042. Several adjectives of time, place, order of succession, etc., are used as predicates where English employs an adverb or a preposition with its case: ““
ἀφικνοῦνται τριταῖοι”
they arrive on the third day”
X. A. 5.3.2,
κατέβαινον σκοταῖοι they descended in the dark 4. 1. 10. In such cases the adjective is regarded as a
quality of the subject; whereas an adverb would regard the
manner of the action.
a. Time,
place: χρόνιος late,
ὄρθριος in the morning,
δευτεραῖος on the second day,
ποσταῖος how many days? ὑπαίθριος in the open air.
b. Order of succession: πρῶτος, πρότερος first,
ὕστερος later,
μέσος in the midst,
τελευταῖος last,
ὕστατος last.
N.—When one action is opposed to another in order of sequence, the adverbs
πρῶτον, πρότερον, ὕστατον, etc., not the adjectives
πρῶτος, etc.. must be used: ““
πρῶτον μὲν ἐδάκρυ_ε πολὺν χρόνον . . . εἶτα δὲ ἔλεξε τοιάδε”
first he wept for a long time, then he spoke as follows”
X. A. 1.3.2. Hence distinguish
The same rule applies in the case of
μόνος, μόνον, as
μόνην τὴν ἐπιστολη<*> ἔγραψα this is the only letter I wrote,
μόνον ἔγραψα τὴν ἐπιστολήν I only wrote (but did not send)
the letter. But this distinction is not always observed (
Aes. 3.69).
[*] 1043. So also with adjectives of degree, mental attitude, manner, etc.: ““
φέρονται οἱ λίθοι πολλοί”
the stones are thrown in great numbers”
X. A. 4.7.7, ““
τοὺς νεκροὺς ὑποσπόνδους ἀπέδοσαν”
they restored the dead under a truce”
T. 1.63, ““
οἱ θεοὶ εὐμενεῖς πέμπουσί σε”
the gods send you forth favourably”
X. C. 1.6.2. So with
μέγας high,
ἄσμενος gladly,
ἑκούσιος, ἑκών willingly,
ὅρκιος under oath,
αἰφνίδιος suddenly. On
ἄλλος, see
1272.
AGREEMENT OF PREDICATE ADJECTIVES (AND PARTICIPLES)
WITH ONE SUBJECT
[*] 1044. A circumstantial participle (
2054) referring to a collective noun (
996) may be plural: ““
τὸ στράτευμα ἐπορίζετο σῖτον κόπτοντες τοὺς βοῦς”
the army provided itself with provisions by killing the cattle”
X. A. 2.1.6. So after
οὐδείς, as
οὐδεὶς ἐκοιμήθη ( =
πάντες ἐν ἀγρυπνίᾳ ἦσαν) ““
τοὺς ἀπολωλότας πενθοῦντες”
no one slept because they were all bewailing the dead”
X. H. 2.2.3. Cp.
950.
[*] 1045. A plural participle may be used with a dual verb: ““
ἐγελασάτην ἄμφω βλέψαντες εἰς ἀλλήλους”
both looked at each other and burst out laughing”
P. Eu. 273d. A dual participle may be used with a plural verb:
ποῦ ποτ᾽ ὄνθ᾽ ηὑρήμεθα;
where in the world are we? E. I. T. 777.
[*] 1046. A dual subject may be followed by a plural predicate adjective or participle: ““
εἰ γάρ τις φαίη τὼ πόλει τούτω πλείστων ἀγαθῶν αἰτία_ς γεγενῆσθαι”
if any one should assert that these two cities have been the cause of very many blessings”
I. 12.156.
[*] 1047. A predicate adjective is neuter singular when the subject is an infinitive, a sentence, or a general thought: ““
ἡδὺ πολλοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἔχειν”
; is it pleasant to have many enemies?”
D. 19.221,
δῆλον δ᾽ ὅτι ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ it is clear that these things are true 2. 19.
[*] 1048. A predicate adjective referring to a masculine or feminine singular subject is often neuter singular and equivalent to a substantive. This occurs chiefly in statements of a general truth, where the subject refers to a whole class, not to an individual thing. Thus, ““
καλὸν εἰρήνη”
peace is a fine thing”
D. 19.336,
ἄπιστον ταῖς πολι_- τείαις ἡ τυραννίς despotism is an object of mistrust to free states 1. 5, ““
μεῖζον πόλις ἑνὸς ἀνδρός”
the state is larger than the individual”
P. R. 368e. So also in the plural (
1056).
[*] 1049. So with names of places: ““
ἔστι δὲ ἡ Χαιρώνεια ἔσχατον τὴς Βοιωτία_ς”
Chaeronea is on the frontier of Boeotia”
T. 4.76.
[*] 1050. A predicate superlative agrees in gender either with the subject or (usually) with a dependent genitive:
νόσων χαλεπώτατος φθόνος envy is
the most fell of diseases Men. fr. 535,
σύμβουλος ἀγαθὸς χρησιμώτατον ἁπάντων τῶν κτημάτων a good counsellor is
the most useful of all possessions I. 2.53.
[*] 1051. For a predicate adjective used where English has an adverb, cp.
1042.
[*] 1052. A predicate adjective is often used in the neuter plural (especially with verbal adjectives in
-τός and
-τέος in Thucydides and the poets):
ἐπειδὴ ἑτοῖμα ἦν, ἀνήγετο when (all)
was ready, he put out to sea T. 2.56,
ἀδύνατα ἦν τοὺς Λοκροὺς ἀμύ_νεσθαι it was impossible to resist the Locrians 4. 1,
ἐδόκει ἐπιχειρητέα εἶναι they decided to make the attempt 2. 3. Cp. 1003 a.
WITH TWO OR MORE SUBJECTS
[*] 1053. With two or more substantives a predicate adjective is plural, except when it agrees with the nearer subject: ““
φόβος καὶ νόμος ἱκανὸς ἔρωτα κωλύ_ειν”
fear and the law are capable of restraining love”
X. C. 5.1.10, ““
πολλῶν δὲ λόγων καὶ θορύβου γιγνομένου”
there arising much discussion and confusion”
D. 3.4. See
968.
[*] 1054. With substantives denoting persons of like gender, a predicate adjective is of the same gender:
Ἀγάθων καὶ Σωκράτης λοιποί Agathon and Socrates are
left P. S. 193c.
[*] 1055. When the persons are of different gender, the masculine prevails: ““
ὡς εἶδε πατέρα τε καὶ μητέρα καὶ ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα αἰχμαλώτους γεγενημένους, ἐδάκρυ_σε”
when he saw that his father and mother and brothers and wife had been made prisoners of war, he burst into tears”
X. C. 3.1.7.
a. But persons are sometimes regarded as things: ““
ἔχω αὐτῶν καὶ τέκνα καὶ γυναῖκας φρουρούμενα”
I have their children and wives under guard”
X. A. 1.4.8.
[*] 1056. With substantives denoting things of like gender a predicate adjective is of the same gender and plural. A neuter plural with the singular verb is often preferred: ““
εὐγένειαί τε καὶ δυνάμεις καὶ τι_μαὶ δῆλά ἐστιν ἀγαθὰ ὄντα”
noble birth and power and honour are clearly good things”
P. Eu. 279b.
[*] 1057. When the things are of different gender, a predicate adjective is neuter plural with singular verb: ““
λίθοι τε καὶ πλίνθοι καὶ ξύλα καὶ κέραμος ἀτάκτως ἐρρι_μμένα οὐδὲν χρήσιμά ἐστιν”
stones and bricks and pieces of wood and tiles thrown together at random are useless”
X. M. 3.1.7.
[*] 1058. When the substantives denote both persons and things, a predicate adjective is—
a. plural, and follows the gender of the person, if the person is more important, or if the thing is treated as a person:
γρᾴδια καὶ γερόντια καὶ ““
πρόβατα ὀλίγα καὶ βοῦς καταλελειμμένους”
old women and old men and a few sheep and oxen that had been left behind”
X. A. 6.3.22, ““
ἡ τύχη καὶ Φίλιππος ἦσαν τῶν ἔργων κύ_ριοι”
Fortune and Philip were masters of the situation”
Aes. 2.118,
b. or is neuter plural if the person is treated like a thing: ““
ἡ καλλίστη πολι_τεία_ τε καὶ ὁ κάλλιστος ἀνὴρ λοιπὰ ἂν ἡμῖν εἴη διελθεῖν”
we should still have to treat of the noblest polity and the noblest man”
P. R. 562a.
[*] 1059. The verbal and the adjective predicate may agree with the first of two subjects as the more important: ““
Βρα_σίδα_ς καὶ τὸ πλῆθος ἐπὶ τὰ μετέωρα τῆς πόλεως ἐτράπετο βουλόμενος κατ᾽ ἄκρα_ς ἑλεῖν αὐτήν”
Brasidas with the bulk of his troops turned to the upper part of the city wishing to capture it completely”
T. 4.112.
For further uses of predicate adjectives, see
1150 ff., 1168 ff., 2647.
ATTRACTION OF PREDICATE NOUNS WITH THE INFINITIVE TO THE CASE OF THE OBJECT OF THE GOVERNING VERB
[*] 1060. When the subject of the infinitive is the same as a genitive or dative depending on the governing verb, it is often omitted.
[*] 1061. A predicate adjective referring to a
genitive regularly stands in the genitive, but a predicate substantive or participle generally stands in the accusative in agreement with the unexpressed subject of the infinitive: ““
Κύ_ρου ἐδέοντο ώς προθυ_μοτάτου γενέσθαι”
they entreated Cyrus to show himself as zealous as possible”
X. H. 1.5.2, ““
ὑπὸ τῶν δεομένων μου προστάτην γενέσθαι”
by those who begged me to become their chief”
X. C. 7.2.23,
δέομαι ὑ_μῶν ἐθελῆσαί μου ἀκοῦσαι, ὑπολογιζομένους τὸ πλῆθος τῶν αἰτιῶν I beg of you that you be willing to listen to me,
paying heed to the number of charges Aes. 2.1.
[*] 1062. A predicate substantive, adjective, or participle referring to a
dative stands in the dative or in the accusative in agreement with the unexpressed subject of the infinitive: ““
νῦν σοι ἔξεστιν ἀνδρὶ γενέσθαι”
now it is in your power to prove yourself a man”
X. A. 7.1.21, ““
Λακεδαιμονίοις ἔξεστιν ὑ_μῖν φίλους γενέσθαι”
it is in your power to become friends to the Lacedaemonians”
T. 4.29, ““
ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς . . . ἐξοπλισαμένοις προϊ_έναι”
they decided to arm themselves fully and to advance”
X. A. 2.1.2,
ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς προφυλακὰ_ς καταστήσαντας συγκαλεῖν τοὺς στρατιώτα_ς they decided to station pickets and to assemble the soldiers 3. 2. 1, ““
συμφέρει αὐτοῖς φίλους εἶναι μᾶλλον ἢ πολεμίους”
it is for their interest to be friends rather than enemies”
X. O. 11.23.
For predicate nouns in the nominative or accusative in agreement with omitted
subject of the infinitive, see
1973-1975.
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES (AND ADVERBS）
POSITIVE
[*] 1063. The positive, used to imply that something is not suited or inadequate for the purpose in question, is especially common before an infinitive with or without
ὥστε (
ὡς): (
τὸ ὕδωρ)
ψυ_χρόν ἐστιν ὥστε λούσασθαι the water is too
cold for bathing X. M. 3.13.3,
νῆες ὀλίγαι ἀμύ_νειν ships too
few to defend T. 1.50,
μακρὸν ἂν εἴη μοι λέγειν it would take too
long for me to state And. 2.15.
[*] 1064. A positive adjective followed by the genitive of the same adjective has, in poetry, the force of a superlative: ““
κακὰ κακῶν”
woe of woe”
S. O. C. 1238.
[*] 1065.
μᾶλλον ἤ rather than, more . . . than may be used after a positive: ““
προθύ_μως μᾶλλον ἢ φίλως”
more prompt than kindly”
A. Ag. 1591.
COMPARATIVE
[*] 1066. The comparative expresses contrast or comparison. Thus,
δεξίτερος is
right in contrast to its opposite,
ἀριστερός left. Cp. 1082 b. Usually comparison is expressed, as ““
εὖ τε καὶ χεῖρον”
well or ill”
T. 2.35.
a. When the positive precedes,
μᾶλλον alone may stand for the comparative; as in
ἐκεῖνοί τε ἄξιοι ἐπαίνου καὶ ἔτι μᾶλλον (i.e.
ἀξιώτεροι) ““
οἱ πατέρες”
they are worthy of praise and still more worthy are our fathers”
T. 2.36.
b. The persons or things with which comparison is made may include
all others of the same class:
ἡμῶν ὁ γεραίτερος the elder (= eldest)
of us X. C. 5.1.6.
[*] 1067. The comparative is sometimes used merely as an intensive and does not differ essentially from the positive:
τούτων καταδεέστερος at a disadvantage with (inferior to)
these men D. 27.2.
[*] 1068. For the use of
μᾶλλον instead of the comparative, and
μάλιστα instead of the superlative, see
323. When either form can be used, that with
μᾶλλον or
μάλιστα is more emphatic. Thucydides sometimes uses
πλέον (
τι),
τὸ πλέον instead of
μᾶλλον.
[*] 1069. The comparative degree may be followed by the genitive (
1431) or by
ἤ than: σοφώτερος ἐμοῦ or
σοφώτερος ἢ ἐγώ wiser than I. The genitive may precede or follow the comparative. With
ἤ, the persons or things compared usually stand in the same case, and always so when they are connected by the same verb: ““
φιλῶ γὰρ οὐ σὲ μᾶλλον ἢ δόμους ἐμούς”
for I do not love thee more than my own house”
E. Med. 327.
a. The genitive is usual if two subjects would have the same verb in common; as
οἱ Κρῆτες βραχύτερα τῶν Περσῶν ἐτόξευον the Cretans shot a shorter distance than the Persians ( =
ἢ οἱ Πέρσαι)
X. A. 3.3.7.
b. When two objects have the same verb in common: if the object stands (1) in the
accusative, the genitive is preferred, as ““
ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ Κῦρος, οὕστινας ἂν ὁρᾷ ἀγαθούς, φιλεῖν οὐδὲν ἧττον ἑαυτοῦ”
Cyrus seems to me to love all whom he finds excellent quite as much as he loves himself”
X. C. 2.3.12, but the accusative is not uncommon, as
E. Med. 327 quoted above; (2) in the
dative, the genitive is frequent, as ““
προσήκει μοι μᾶλλον ἑτέρων . . . ἄρχειν”
it behooves me rather than others to rule”
T. 6.16; (3) in the
genitive, the genitive is very rare (
X. M. 4.3.10). Here
ἤ is preferred to the genitive for the sake of euphony:
οἱ γὰρ πονηροὶ πολὺ πλειόνων εὐεργεσιῶν ἢ οἱ χρηστοὶ (not
τῶν χρηστῶν) ““
δέονται”
for the wicked need more favours than the good”
X. M. 2.6.27.
c. The genitive is often used where
ἤ would be followed by some other case than nominative or accusative, or by a preposition:
ταῦτα τοῖς ὁπλί_ταις οὐχ ἧσσον τῶν ναυτῶν ( =
ἢ τοῖς ναύταις) ““
παρακελεύομαι”
I address these exhortations to the hoplites not less than to the sailors”
T. 7.63, (
δεῖ βλέπειν)
εἰς τὴν ἐμπειρία_ν μᾶλλον τῆς ἀρετῆς ( =
ἢ εἰς τὴν ἀρετήν)
we must look at skill more than (at)
courage Aristotle, Politics 1309 b 5.
d. ἐλά_ττων (
χείρων, ἐνδεέστερος, ὕστερος, etc.)
οὐδενός inferior to none, greater than all; here
ἤ is not used). Thus, ““
δουλεύειν δουλεία_ν οὐδεμιᾶς ἧττον αἰσχρά_ν”
to endure a most disgraceful slavery”
X. M. 1.5.6.
[*] 1070. The word following
ἤ may be the subject of a new verb (expressed or understood):
ἡμεῖς ὑπὸ κρείττονος διδασκάλου πεπαιδεύμεθα ἢ οὗτοι we have been educated by a better teacher than they (have been)
X. C. 2.3.13; but this word is more often attracted into the case of the preceding word:
τινὲς καὶ ἐκ δεινοτέρων ἢ τοιῶνδε ( =
ἢ τοιάδε ἐστίν) ““
ἐσώθησαν”
some have been rescued from dangers even greater than these”
T. 7.77. The genitive is also common without
ἤ: ““
λέγων ὅτι οὔπω . . . τούτου ἡδί_ονι οἴνῳ ἐπιτύχοι”
saying that he had never met with sweeter wine than this”
X. A. 1.9.25.
[*] 1071.
ὡς for
ἤ is rare, and suspected by some. But cp.
A. Pr. 629,
P. A. 30b, 36 d, R. 526 c.
[*] 1072.
μᾶλλον ἤ may be used though a comparative precedes:
αἱρετώτερόν ἐστι μαχομένους ἀποθνῄσκειν μᾶλλον ἤ φεύγοντας σῴζεσθαι it is more desirable for men to die fighting (rather)
than to save themselves by running away X. C. 3.3.51. Here
μᾶλλον ἤ is to be taken with the verb.
[*] 1073. Instead of the genitive or
ἤ, the prepositions
ἀντί, πρό (w. gen.) or
πρός, παρά (w. accus.) are sometimes used with the comparative:
κατεργάσασθαι αἱρετώτερον εἶναι τὸν καλὸν θάνατον ἀντὶ τοῦ αἰσχροῦ βίου to make a noble death more desirable than (instead of)
a shameful life X. R.
L. 9.1,
μὴ παῖδας περὶ πλείονος ποιοῦ πρὸ τοῦ δικαίου do not consider children of more account than (before)
justice P. Cr. 54b,
χειμὼν μείζων παρὰ τὴν καθεστηκυῖαν ὥρα_ν a cold too severe for (in comparison with)
the actual time of year T. 4.6.
[*] 1074. In statements of number and measure
ἤ may be omitted after the adverbial comparatives
πλέον (
πλεῖν)
more,
ἔλα_ττον (
μεῖον)
less, which do not alter their case and number:
πέμπει οὐκ ἔλα_ττον δέκα φέροντας πῦρ he sends not less than
ten men carrying fire X. H. 4.5.4,
πόλις πλέον πεντακισχι_λίων ἀνδρῶν a city of more than
5000 men 5. 3. 16. Even when
ἤ is kept,
πλέον (
πλεῖν), etc., remains unchanged:
ἐν πλεῖν ( =
πλείοσιν) ““
ἢ δια_κοσίοις ἔτεσιν”
in more than 200 years”
D. 24.141, ““
τοξότα_ς πλεῖν ἢ εἴκοσι μυ_ριάδας”
more bowmen than 20 myriads”
X. C. 2.1.6.
a. In place of the adverbial
πλέον, etc., we find also the adjectival forms with or without
ἤ or with the genitive: ““
τοξότα_ς πλείους ἢ τετρακισχι_λίους”
more bowmen than 4000”
X. C. 2.1.5,
ἔτη γεγονὼς πλείω ἑβδομήκοντα more than
70 years old P. A. 17d, ““
ι:ππέα_ς πλείους τρια_κοσίων”
more than 300 horse”
X. H. 1.3.10.
[*] 1075. The genitive sometimes occurs together with
ἤ, and either when the genitive has a separate construction, or is a pronoun to which the
ἤ clause stands as an appositive, or of which it is explanatory. Thus, ““
προῄει πλέον . . . ἢ δέκα σταδίων”
he advanced more than ten stades”
X. H. 4.6.5 (here
πλέον is treated as a substantive),
τίς γὰρ ἂν γένοιτο ταύτης μανία_ μείζων ἢ . . . ἡμᾶς κακῶς ποιεῖν;
for what madness could be greater than (
this) . . .
to use us ill? Is. 1.20. Cp.
1070.
[*] 1076.
Compendious Comparison.—The possessor, rather than the object possessed, may be put in the genitive after a comparative:
εἰ δ᾽ ἡμεῖς ἱππικὸν κτησαίμεθα μὴ χεῖρον τούτων ( =
τοῦ τούτων ἱππικοῦ)
but if we should raise a cavalry-force not inferior to theirs X. C. 4.3.7.
[*] 1077.
Comparison with a Noun representing a clause.—When one person or thing is to be compared, not with another person or thing in regard to its quality, but with an entire idea expressed by a clause (e.g.
ἢ ὥστε with the infinitive,
ἢ ὡς with the potential optative, or
ἤ and a finite verb), this clause may be abridged into a substantive or a participle. Thus,
πρᾶγμα ἐλπίδος κρεῖσσον an event beyond our expectations (too great to be expected)
T. 2.64,
προσωτέρω τοῦ καιροῦ προϊόντες advancing further than the proper measure (i.e.
further than they should have gone)
X. A. 4.3.34,
ὡς τῶν γε παρόντων οὐκ ἂν πρά_ξαντες χεῖρον in the belief that they could not fare worse than at present (
ἢ τὰ παρόντα ἐστίν)
T. 7.67.
[*] 1078.
Reflexive Comparison.—The comparative followed by the reflexive pronoun in the genitive is used to denote that an object displays a quality in a higher degree than usual. The degree of increase is measured by comparison with the subject itself.
αὐτός is often added to the subject: ““
αὐτοὶ αὑτῶν εὐμαθέστεροι γίγνονται”
they learn more easily than before”
I. 15.267, ““
πλουσιώτεροι ἑαυτῶν γιγνόμενοι”
becoming richer than they were before”
T. 1.8. Cp.
1093.
[*] 1079.
Proportional Comparison.—After a comparative,
ἢ κατά with the accusative (
1690. 2 c), or
ἢ ὥστε, ἢ ὡς, rarely
ἤ alone, with the infinitive (not with the indicative), denote too high or too low a degree: ““
ὅπλα ἔτι πλείω ἢ κατὰ τοὺς νεκροὺς ἐλήφθη”
more arms were taken than there were men slain”
T. 7.45, ““
φοβοῦμαι μή τι μεῖζον ἢ ὥστε φέρειν δύνασθαι κακὸν τῇ πόλει συμβῇ”
I fear lest there should befall the State an evil too great for it to be able to bear”
X. M. 3.5.17 (
2264).
[*] 1080.
Double Comparison.—Two adjectives (or adverbs) referring to the same subject, when compared with each other, are both put in the comparative;
ἤ is always used: ““
ἡ εἰρήνη ἀναγκαιοτέρα_ ἢ καλλί_ων”
a peace inevitable rather than honourable”
Aes. 3.69, ““
συντομώτερον ἢ σαφέστερον διαλεχθῆναι”
to discourse briefly rather than clearly”
I. 6.24.
a. μᾶλλον may be used with the first adjective in the positive (cp.
1065), and
ἤ before the second: ““
πρόθυ_μος μᾶλλον ἢ σοφωτέρα_”
with more affection than prudence”
E. Med. 485.
[*] 1081. A comparative may follow a positive to mark the contrast with it:
καὶ μι_κρὰ καὶ μείζω both small and great(er)
D. 21.14.
[*] 1082. The comparative may stand alone, the second part being implied.
a. That which is exceeded is indicated by the sense only:
οἱ σοφώτεροι the wiser (those wiser than the rest);
ἐν εἰρήνῃ αἱ πόλεις ἀμείνους τὰ_ς γνώμα_ς ἔχουσιν in time of peace States are actuated by higher convictions (than in time of war)
T. 3.82. So
τι νεώτερον something new (more recent than that already known)
P. Pr. 310a (often =
a calamity or
a revolutionary movement); ““
ὕστερον ἧκον”
they came too late”
T. 7.27; and often where we supply
is usual (
right,
fitting, etc.).
b. The Hom.
θηλύτεραι γυναῖκες implies a comparison with men. In
Κῦρος . . . ἐγεγόνει μητρὸς ἀμείνονος, πατρὸς δὲ ὑποδεεστέρου Cyrus was born of a mother of superior,
but of a father of inferior race (
Hdt. 1.91) the comparison is between the qualities of mother and father respectively. Cp. 313 b.
c. The comparative denotes excess: ““
μείζοσιν ἔργοις ἐπιχειροῦντες οὐ μι_κροῖς κακοῖς περιπί_πτουσι”
by entering upon undertakings too great they encounter no slight troubles”
X. M. 4.2.35.
d. The comparative is used to soften an expression (
rather,
somewhat): ““
ἀγροικότερον”
somewhat boorishly”
P. G. 486c, ““
ἀμελέστερον ἐπορεύετο”
he proceeded rather carelessly”
X. H. 4.8.36. Here the quality is compared with its absence or with its opposite.
[*] 1083. The comparative is often used where English requires the positive: ““
οὐ γὰρ χεῖρον πολλάκις ἀκούειν”
for 'tis not a bad thing to hear often”
P. Ph. 105a.
[*] 1084.
Strengthened forms.—The comparative may be strengthened by
ἔτι, πολλῷ, μακρῷ (
1513),
πολύ (
1609),
πολὺ ἔτι, etc.
μᾶλλον is sometimes used with the comparative: ““
αἰσχυντηροτέρω μᾶλλον τοῦ δέοντος”
more bashful than they ought to be”
P. G. 487b. So the correlative
ὅσῳ, ὅσον: ““
ὅσῳ μείζους εἰσὶ τὰ_ς ὄψεις, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ὀργῆς ἄξιοί εἰσι”
the braver they are to appearances, the more they deserve our anger”
L. 10.29.
SUPERLATIVE
[*] 1085. The superlative expresses either the highest degree of a quality (the
relative superlative:
ὁ σοφώτατος ἀνήρ the wisest man) or a very high degree of a quality (the
absolute superlative, which does not take the article:
ἀνὴρ σοφώτατος a very wise man). The relative superlative is followed by the genitive of the person or thing surpassed (
1315,
1434). On the agreement, see
1050.
a. The class to which an individual, marked by the superlative, belongs, may be designated by a genitive of the divided whole (
1315):
ὁ σοφώτατος τῶν Ἑλλήνων the wisest of the Greeks. So often by
πάντων:
πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἀγνωμονέστατοι the most senseless of all men Lyc. 54. On the superlative with
ἄλλων, see
1434.
b. With
two the comparative exhausts all the degrees of comparison: hence
πρότερος and
πρῶτος, ὕστερος and
ὕστατος, ἑκάτερος each of two, and
ἕκαστος each of several, are carefully to be distinguished.
[*] 1086.
Strengthened Forms.—The superlative may be strengthened by prefixing
ὅτι or
ὡς, rarely
ᾗ (also
ὅσον or
ὅπως in poetry):
ὅτι πλεῖστοι as many men as possible,
ὅτι τάχιστα as quickly as possible, ““
ᾗ ἄριστον”
the very best way”
X. C. 7.5.82 (
ὅπως ἄριστα A. Ag. 600).
ὅτι or
ὥς is always added when a preposition precedes the superlative: ““
ὡς εἰς στενώτατον”
into as narrow compass as possible”
X. O. 18.8.
ὡς and
ὅτι may be used together: ““
ὡς ὅτι βέλτιστον ἐμέ γενέσθαι”
for me to become as good as may be”
P. S. 218d.
a.With
ὡς and
ᾖ, rarely with
ὅπῃ (not with
ὅτι), a form of
δύναμαι or
οἷός τέ εἰμι, may be employed: ““
διηγήσομαι ὑ_μῖν ὡς ἂν δύνωμαι διὰ βραχυτάτων”
I will relate to you in the briefest terms I can”
I. 21.2.
[*] 1087.
ὁ̂ιος may strengthen the superlative: ““
ὁρῶντες τὰ πρά_γματα οὐχ οἷα βέλτιστα ἐν τῇ πόλει ὄντα”
observing that affairs are not in the very best state in the city”
L. 13.23. If
ὄσος or
ὁπόσος take the place of
οἷος, a form, or a synonym, of
δύναμαι is usually added: ““
ἤγαγον συμμάχους ὁπόσους πλείστους ἐδυνάμην”
I brought the very largest number of allies I could”
X. C. 4.5.29.
ὁποῖος is rare (Thuc., Plato).
[*] 1088.
εἷς ἀνήρ in apposition to the person designated may be added to strengthen the superlative:
Ἀντιφῶν πλεῖστα εἷς ἀνὴρ δυνάμενος ὠφελεῖν Antiphon being able to render (most aid as one man)
aid beyond any other man T. 8.68.
[*] 1089.
ἐν τοῖς is used before the superlative in all genders and numbers (esp. in Hdt., Thuc., Plato): ““
ὠμὴ ἡ στάσις . . . ἔδοξε μᾶλλον, διότι ἐν τοῖς πρώτη ἐγένετο”
the revolution seemed the more cruel since it was the first”
T. 3.81,
ἐν τοῖς πλεῖσται δη᾽ νῆες ἅμ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἐγένοντο they had the very largest number of ships 3. 17.
[*] 1090.
μάλιστα, or
πλεῖστον, μέγιστον, occurs with the superlative: ““
οἱ μάλιστα ἀνοητότατοι”
the very stupidest”
P. Tim. 92a. In poetry
βαθυ- has the effect of a superlative: ““
βαθύπλουτος”
exceeding rich”
A. Supp. 555.
[*] 1091.
καί even,
πολλῷ, μακρῷ (
1513),
πολύ (
1609),
παρὰ πολύ, πάντα (
τὰ πάντα), the correlative
ὅσῳ also strengthen the superlative.
[*] 1092. In poetry (rarely in prose) a superlative may be strengthened by the addition of the genitive of the same adjective in the positive:
ὦ κακῶν κάκιστε oh,
vilest of the vile S. O. T. 334.
[*] 1093. Reflexive comparison (cp.
1078) occurs with the superlative: ““
ἀμβλύτατα αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ ὁρᾷ”
his sight is at its dullest”
P. L. 715d.
