genitive of connection

§§1380–1381 · 2 sections

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Genitive › dependent › genitive proper

GENITIVE OF CONNECTION

The genitive may express a more or less close connection or relation, where περί is sometimes added.

With verbs of saying or thinking: τί δὲ ἵππων οἴει; but what do you think of horses? P. R. 459b. Often in poetry: εἰπὲ δέ μοι πατρός but tell me about my father λ 174, τοῦ κασιγνήτου τί φῄς; what dost thou say of thy brother? S. El. 317.

The genitive is often used loosely, especially at the beginning of a construction, to state the subject of a remark: ἵππος ἢν κακουργῇ, τὸν ἱππέᾱ κακίζομεν· τῆς δὲ γυναικός, εἰ κακοποιεῖ κτλ. if a horse is vicious, we lay the fault to the groom; but as regards a wife, if she conducts herself ill, etc. X. O. 3.11, ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τεχνῶν and so in the case of the other arts too P. Charm. 165d, τί δὲ τῶν πολλῶν καλῶν; what about the many beautiful things? P. Ph. 78d.

In the index: Connection · Genitive case