genitive proper

The genitive limits for the time being the scope of the substantive on which it depends by referring it to a particular class or description, or by regarding it as a part of a whole. The genitive is akin in meaning to the adjective and may often be translated by an epithet. Cp. στέφανος χρῡσίου with χρῡσοῦς στέφανος, φόβος πολεμίου with πολέμιος φόβος, τὸ εὖρος πλέθρου with τὸ εὖρος πλεθριαῖον (1035). But the use of the adjective is not everywhere parallel to that of the genitive.

In poetry a genitive is often used with βίᾱ, μένος, σθένος might, etc., instead of the corresponding adjective: βίη Διομήδεος mighty Diomede E 781.

In poetry δέμας form, κάρᾱ and κεφαλή head, etc., are used with a genitive to express majestic or loved persons or objects: Ἰσμήνης κάρᾱ S. Ant. 1.

χρῆμα thing is used in prose with a genitive to express size, strength, etc.: σφενδονητῶν πάμπολύ τι χρῆμα a very large mass of slingers X. C. 2.1.5. Cp. 1322.

The genitive with substantives denotes in general a connection or dependence between two words. This connection must often be determined (1) by the meaning of the words, (2) by the context, (3) by the facts presupposed as known (1301). The same construction may often be placed under more than one of the different classes mentioned below; and the connection between the two substantives is often so loose that it is difficult to include with precision all cases under specific grammatical classes.

a. The two substantives may be so closely connected as to be equivalent to a single compound idea: τελευτὴ τοῦ βίου ‘life-end’ (cp. life-time) X. A. 1.1.1. Cp. 1146.

b. The genitive with substantives has either the attributive (1154), or, in the case of the genitive of the divided whole (1306), and of personal pronouns (1185), the predicate, position (1168).

Words denoting number, especially numerals or substantives with numerals, often agree in case with the limited word instead of standing in the genitive: φόρος τέσσαρα τάλαντα a tribute of four talents T. 4.57 (cp. 1323), ἐς τᾱ̀ς ναῦς, αἳ ἐφρούρουν δύο, καταφυγόντες fleeing to the ships, two of which were keeping guard 4. 113. So with οἱ μέν, οἱ δέ in apposition to the subject (981).

Here may be classed the genitive of origin: οἱ Σόλωνος νόμοι the laws of Solon D. 20.103, ἡ ἐπιστολὴ τοῦ Φιλίππου the letter of Philip 18. 37, κῡ́ματα παντοίων ἀνέμων waves caused by all kinds of winds B 396.

The possessive genitive is used with the neuter article (singular or plural) denoting affairs, conditions, power, and the like: τὸ τῶν ἐφόρων the power of the ephors P. L. 712d, τὸ τῆς τέχνης the function of the art P. G. 450c, τὸ τοῦ Σόλωνος the maxim of Solon P. Lach. 188b, ἄδηλα τὰ τῶν πολέμων the chances of war are uncertain T. 2.11, τὰ τῆς πόλεως the interests of the State P. A. 36c, τὰ τοῦ δήμου φρονεῖ is on the side of the people Ar. Eq. 1216. Sometimes this is almost a mere periphrasis for the thing itself: τὸ τῆς τύχης chance D. 4.12 τὰ τῆς σωτηρίᾱς safety 23. 163, τὸ τῆς ὁσίᾱς, ὁτιδήποτ᾽ ἐστί the quality of holiness, whatever it is 21. 126, τὸ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἡμῶν we elders P. L. 657d. So τὸ τούτου S. Aj. 124 is almost = οὗτος, as τοὐμόν is = ἐγώ or ἐμέ. Cp. L. 8.19.

The genitive of possession may be used after a demonstrative or relative pronoun: τοῦτό μου διαβάλλει he attacks this action of mine D. 18.28.

With persons the genitive may denote the relation of child to parent, wife to husband, and of inferior to superior: Θουκῡδίδης ὁ Ὀλόρου Thucydides, the son of Olorus T. 4.104 (and so υιός is regularly omitted in Attic official documents), Διὸς Ἄρτεμις Artemis, daughter of Zeus S. Aj. 172, ἡ Σμῑκυθίωνος Μελιστίχη Melistiche wife of Smicythion Ar. Eccl. 46, Αῡδὸς ὁ Φερεκλέους Lydus, the slave of Pherecles And. 1.17, οἱ Μένωνος the troops of Menon X. A. 1.5.13 (οἱ τοῦ Μένωνος στρατιῶται 1. 5. 11).

a. In poetry we may have an attributive adjective: Τελαμώνιος Αἴᾱς ( = Αἴᾱς ὁ Τελαμῶνος) B 528. Cp. 846 f.

The word on which the possessive genitive depends may be represented by the article: ἀπὸ τῆς ἑαυτῶν from their own country (γῆς) T. 1.15 (cp. 1027 b). A word for dwelling (οἰκίᾱ, δόμος, and also ἱερόν) is perhaps omitted after ἐν, εἰς, and sometimes after ἐξ. Thus, ἐν Ἀρίφρονος at Ariphron's P. Pr. 320a, ἐν Διονῡ́σου (scil. ἱερῷ) at the shrine of Dionysus D. 5.7, εἰς διδασκάλου φοιτᾶν to go to school X. C. 2.3.9, ἐκ Πατροκλέους ἔρχομαι I come from Patroclus's Ar. Plut. 84. So, in Homer, εἰν(εἰς) Ἀίδᾱο.

Predicate Use.—The genitive may be connected with the noun it limits by means of a verb.

Ἱπποκράτης ἐστὶ οἰκίᾱς μεγάλης Hippocrates is of an influential house P. Pr. 316b, Βοιωτῶν ἡ πόλις ἔσται the city will belong to the Boeotians L. 12.58, ἡ Ζέλειά ἐστι τῆς Ἀσίᾱς Zelea is in Asia D. 9.43, οὐδὲ τῆς αὐτῆς Θρᾴκης ἐγένοντο nor did they belong to the same Thrace T. 2.29, ἃ διώκει τοῦ ψηφίσματος, ταῦτ᾽ ἐστίν the clauses in the bill which he attacks, are these D. 18.56.

The genitive with εἰμί may denote the person whose nature, duty, custom, etc., it is to do that set forth in an infinitive subject of the verb: πενίᾱν φέρειν οὐ παντός, ἀλλ᾽ ἀνδρὸς σοφοῦ 'tis the sage, not every one, who can bear poverty Men. Sent. 463, δοκεῖ δικαίου τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι πολῑ́του this seems to be the duty of a just citizen D. 8.72, τῶν νῑκώντων ἐστὶ καὶ τὰ ἑαυτῶν σῴζειν καὶ τὰ τῶν ἡττωμένων λαμβάνειν it is the custom of conquerors to keep what is their own and to take the possessions of the defeated X. A. 3.2.39.

With verbs signifying to refer or attribute, by thought, word, or action, anything to a person or class. Such verbs are to think, regard, make, name, choose, appoint, etc.

λογίζου . . . τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα τῆς τύχης deem that the rest belongs to chance E. Alc. 789, τῶν ἐλευθερωτάτων οἴκων νομισθεῖσα deemed a daughter of a house most free E. And. 12, ἐμὲ γράφε τῶν ἱππεύειν ὑπερεπιθῡμούντων put me down as one of those who desire exceedingly to serve on horseback X. C. 4.3.21, τῆς πρώτης τάξεως τεταγμένος assigned to the first class L. 14.11, τῆς ἀγαθῆς τύχης τῆς πόλεως εἶναι τίθημι I reckon as belonging to the good fortune of the State D. 18.254, εἰ δέ τινες τὴν Ἀσίᾱν ἑαυτῶν ποιοῦνται but if some are claiming Asia as their own X. Ages. 1.33, νομίζει ῡ̔μᾶς ἑαυτοῦ εἶναι he thinks that you are in his power X. A. 2.1.11.

Position.—The genitive of the whole stands before or after the word denoting the part: τῶν Θρᾳκῶν πελτασταί targeteers of the Thracians T. 7.27, οἱ ἄποροι τῶν πολῑτῶν the needy among the citizens D. 18.104; rarely between the limited noun and its article: οἱ τῶν ἀδίκων ἀφικνούμενοι those of the unrighteous who come here P. G. 525c. Cp. 1161 N. 1.

When all are included there is no partition: so in οὗτοι πάντες all of these, all these, τέτταρες ἡμεῖς ἦμεν there were four of us, τὸ πᾶν πλῆθος τῶν ὁπλῑτῶν the entire body of the hoplites T. 8.93, ὅσοι ἐστὲ τῶν ὁμοίων as many of you as belong to the ‘peers’ X. A. 4.6.14.

The idea of division is often not explicitly stated. See third example in 1310.

(I) The genitive of the divided whole is used with substantives.

μέρος τι τῶν βαρβάρων some part of the barbarians T. 1.1, οἱ Δωριῆς ἡμῶν those of us who are Dorians 4. 61. The governing word may be omitted: Ἀρχίᾱς τῶν Ἡρᾱκλειδῶν Archias (one) of the Heraclidae T. 6.3. To an indefinite substantive without the article may be added a genitive denoting the special sort: Φεραύλᾱς Πέρσης τῶν δημοτῶν Pheraulas, a Persian, one of the common people X. C. 2.3.7.

Chorographic Genitive.—τῆς Ἀττικῆς ἐς Οἰνόην to Oenoë in Attica T. 2.18 (or ἐς Οἰνόην τῆς Ἀττικῆς, not ἐς τῆς Ἀττικῆς Οἰνόην), τῆς Ἰταλίᾱς Αοκροί the Locrians in Italy 3. 86. The article, which is always used with the genitive of the country (as a place well known), is rarely added to the governing substantive (τὸ Κήναιον τῆς Εὐβοίᾱς Cenaeum in Euboea T. 3.93).

(II) With substantive adjectives and participles.

οἱ ἄδικοι τῶν ἀνθρώπων the unjust among men D. 27.68 (but always οἱ θνητοὶ ἄνθρωποι), μόνος τῶν πρυτάνεων alone of the prytans P. A. 32b, ὀλίγοι αὐτῶν few of them X. A. 3.1.3, τῶν ἄλλων Ἑλλήνων ὁ βουλόμενος whoever of the rest of the Greeks so desires T. 3.92. So τὸ καταντικρὺ αὐτῶν τοῦ σπηλαίου the part of the cavern facing them P. R. 515a. For nihil novi the Greek says οὐδὲν καινόν.

Adjectives denoting magnitude, and some others, may conform in gender to the genitive, instead of appearing in the neuter: ἔτεμον τῆς γῆς τὴν πολλήν they ravaged most of the land T. 2.56, τῆς γῆς ἡ ἀρίστη the best of the land 1. 2. This construction occurs more frequently in prose than in poetry.

But such adjectives, especially when singular, may be used in the neuter: τῶν Ἀργείων λογάδων τὸ πολύ the greater part of the picked Argives T. 5.73, ἐπὶ πολὺ τῆς χώρᾱς over a great part of the land 4. 3.

(III) With comparatives and superlatives.

ἡμῶν ὁ γεραίτερος the elder of us X. C. 5.1.6 (1066 b), οἱ πρεσβύτατοι τῶν στρατηγῶν the oldest of the generals X. A. 3.3.11, σῑ́τῳ πάντων ἀνθρώπων πλείστῳ χρώμεθ᾽ ἐπεισάκτῳ we make use of imported grain more than all other people D. 18.87. So with a superlative adverb: ἡ ναῦς ἄριστά μοι ἔπλει παντὸς τοῦ στρατοπέδου my ship was the best sailer of the whole squadron L. 21.6.

In poetry this use is extended to positive adjectives: ἀριδείκετος ἀνδρῶν conspicuous among men A 248, ὦ φίλᾱ γυναικῶν oh dear among women E. Alc. 460. In tragedy an adjective may be emphasized by the addition of the same adjective in the genitive: ἄρρητ᾽ ἀρρήτων horrors unspeakable S. O. T. 465. Cp. 1064.

(IV) With substantive pronouns and numerals.

οἱ μὲν αὐτῶν, οἱ δ᾽ οὔ some of them and not others P. A. 24e, οἳ ὕστερον ἐλήφθησαν τῶν πολεμίων those of the enemy who were taken later X. A. 1.7.13, οὐδεὶς ἀνθρώπων no one in the world P. S. 220a, τὶ τοῦ τείχους a part of the wall T. 7.4, τὶς θεῶν one of the gods E. Hec. 164 (τὶς θεός a god X. C. 5.2.12), ἓν τῶν πολλῶν one of the many things P. A. 17a; rarely after demonstrative pronouns: τούτοις τῶν ἀνθρώπων to these (of) men T. 1.71.

a. With ὀλίγοι and with numerals ἀπό and ἐξ are rarely added: ἐκ τριῶν ἕν one of three S. Tr. 734. ἐξ with superlatives is also rare. See also 1688. 1 c.

The genitive of the divided whole may do duty as the subject of a finite verb (928 b) or of the infinitive: (ἔφασαν) ἐπιμειγνύναι σφῶν πρὸς ἐκείνους they said that some of their number associated with them X. A. 3.5.16.

Predicate Use.—ἦν δ᾽ αὐτῶν Φαλῖνος and among them was Phalinus X. A. 2.1.7, Σόλων τῶν ἑπτὰ σοφιστῶν ἐκλήθη Solon was called one of the Seven Sages I. 15.235, τῶν ἀτοπωτάτων ἂν εἴη it would be very strange D. 1.26; and often with verbs signifying to be, become, think, say, name, choose. With some of these verbs εἷς with the genitive may be used instead of the genitive alone.

The use of the genitive to express quality, corresponding to the Latin genitive, occurs in the non-predicate position, only when age or size is exactly expressed by the addition of a numeral (genitive of measure, 1325). The Latin genitive of quality in mulier mirae pulchritudinis is expressed by γυνὴ θαυμασίᾱ κάλλος (or τοῦ κάλλους), γυνὴ θαυμασίᾱ ἰδεῖν, γυνὴ ἔχουσα θαυμάσιον σχῆμα, etc.

Predicate Use: στεφάνους ῥόδων ὄντας, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ χρῡσίου crowns that were of roses, not of gold D. 22.70, ἐστρωμένη ἐστὶ ὁδὸς λίθου a road was paved with stone Hdt. 2.138, and often with verbs of making, which admit also the instrumental dative. Hdt. has ποιεῖσθαι ἀπό and ἔκ τινος.

Under the head of measure belongs amount: δυοῖν μναῖν πρόσοδος an income of two minae X. Vect. 3.10. Cp. 1296, 1323.

Predicate Use.—ἐπειδὰν ἐτῶν ᾖ τις τριᾱ́κοντα when a man is thirty years old P. L. 721a, τὰ τείχη ἦν σταδίων ὀκτώ the walls were eight stades long T. 4.66.

In poetry an adjective may take the place of the genitive: νόστος ὁ βασίλειος the return of the king A. Pers. 8. Cp. 1291.

The Subjective Genitive is active in sense: τῶν βαρβάρων φόβος the fear of the barbarians (which they feel: οἱ βάρβαροι φοβοῦνται) X. A. 1.2.17, ἡ βασιλέως ἐπιορκίᾱ the perjury of the king (βασιλεὺς ἐπιορκεῖ) 3. 2. 4, τὸ ὀργιζόμενον τῆς γνώμης their angry feelings T. 2.59 (such genitives with substantive participles are common in Thucydides; cp. 1153 b, N. 2).

The Objective Genitive is passive in sense, and is very common with substantives denoting a frame of mind or an emotion: φόβος τῶν Εἱλώτων the fear of the Helots (felt towards them: φοβοῦνται τοὺς Εἵλωτας) T. 3.54, ἡ τῶν Ἑλλήνων εὔνοια good-will towards the Greeks (εὐνοεῖ τοῖς Ἕλλησι) X. A. 4.7.20, ἡ τῶν καλῶν συνουσίᾱ intercourse with the good (σύνεισι τοῖς καλοῖς) P. L. 838a.

a. The objective genitive often precedes another genitive on which it depends: μετὰ τῆς ξυμμαχίᾱς τῆς αἰτήσεως with the request for an alliance T. 1.32.

Various prepositions are used in translating the objective genitive: ὁ θεῶν πόλεμος war with the gods X. A. 2.5.7, ὅρκοι θεῶν oaths by the gods E. Hipp. 657, θεῶν εὐχαί prayers to the gods P. Phae. 244e, ἀδικημάτων ὀργή anger at injustice L. 12.20, ἐγκράτεια ἡδονῆς moderation in pleasure I. 1.21, ἡ τῶν ἡδονῶν νῑ́κη victory over pleasures P. L. 840c, τρόπαια βαρβάρων memorials of victory over barbarians X. A. 7.6.36, παραινέσεις τῶν ξυναλλαγῶν exhortations to reconciliation T. 4.59, μῦθος φίλων tidings about friends S. Ant. 11, σοῦ μῦθος speech with thee S. O. C. 1161. In θανάτου λύσις release from death ι 421, μεταπαυσωλὴ πολέμοιο respite from war T 201, it is uncertain whether the genitive is objective or ablatival (1392).

The objective genitive is often used when a prepositional expression, giving greater precision, is more usual: τὸ Μεγαρέων ψήφισμα the decree relating to (περί) the Megarians T. 1.140, ἀπόβασις τῆς γῆς a descent upon the land (ἐς τὴν γῆν) 1. 108, ἀπόστασις τῶν Ἀθηναίων revolt from the Athenians (ἀπὸ τῶν Ἀθηναίων) 8. 5.

For the objective genitive a possessive pronoun is sometimes used: σὴν χάριν for thy sake P. Soph. 242a, διαβολὴ ἡ ἐμή calumniation of me P. A. 20e. ὁ ἐμὸς φόβος is usually objective: the fear which I inspire. (But σοῦ μῦθος speech with thee S. O. C. 1161.)

Predicate Use.—οὐ τῶν κακούργων οἶκτος, ἀλλὰ τῆς δίκης compassion is not for wrong-doers, but for justice E. fr. 270.

Predicate Use: τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους τοσούτων χρημάτων λῡ́εσθαι to ransom the captives at so high a price D. 19.222, τριῶν δραχμῶν πονηρὸς ὤν a threepenny rogue 19. 200.

With impersonals a partitive genitive does duty as the subject: πολέμου οὐ μετῆν αὐτῇ she had no share in war X. C. 7.2.28, ἐμοὶ οὐδαμόθεν προσήκει τούτου τοῦ πρᾱ́γματος I have no part whatever in this affair And. 4.34. Cp. 1318.

The genitive is used with verbs of sharing.

πάντες μετεῖχον τῆς ἑορτῆς all took part in the festival X. A. 5.3.9, μετεδίδοσαν ἀλλήλοις ὧν (= τούτων ἃ) εἶχον ἕκαστοι they shared with each other what each had 4. 5. 6, τὸ ἀνθρώπινον γένος μετείληφεν ἀθανασίᾱς the human race has received a portion of immortality P. L. 721b, σῑ́του κοινωνεῖν to take a share of food X. M. 2.6.22, δικαιοσύνης οὐδὲν ῡ̔μῖν προσήκει you have no concern in righteous dealing X. H. 2.4.40, πολῑτείᾱ, ἐν ᾗ πένησιν οὐ μέτεστιν ἀρχῆς a form of government in which the poor have no part in the management of affairs P. R. 550c. So with μεταλαγχάνειν get a share (along with somebody else), συναίρεσθαι and κοινοῦσθαι take part in, μεταιτεῖν and μεταποιεῖσθαι demand a share in.

The part received or taken, if expressed, stands in the accusative. οἱ τύραννοι τῶν μεγίστων ἀγαθῶν ἐλάχιστα μετέχουσι tyrants have the smallest por- tion in the greatest blessings X. Hi. 2.6, τούτων μεταιτεῑ τὸ μέρος he demands his share of this Ar. Vesp. 972.

a. With μέτεστι the part may be added in the nominative: μέτεστι χῡ̓μῖν τῶν πεπρᾱγμένων μέρος ye too have had a share in these doings E. I. T. 1299.

The genitive is used with verbs signifying to touch, take hold of, make trial of.

(ἡ νόσος) ἥψατο τῶν ἀνθρώπων the plague laid hold of the men T. 2.48, τῆς γνώμης τῆς αὐτῆς ἔχομαι I hold to the same opinion 1. 140, ἐν τῇ ἐχομένῃ ἐμοῦ κλῑ́νῃ on the couch next to me P. S. 217d, ἀντιλάβεσθε τῶν πρᾱγμάτων take our public policy in hand D. 1.20, ὅπως πειρῷντο τοῦ τείχους to make an attempt on (a part of) the wall T. 2.81. So with ψαύειν touch (rare in prose), ἀντέχεσθαι cling to, ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι and συλλαμβάνεσθαι lay hold of.

The genitive of the part, with the accusative of the person (the whole) who has been touched, is chiefly poetical: τὸν δὲ πεσόντα ποδῶν ἔλαβε but him as he fell, he seized by his feet Δ 463, ἔλαβον τῆς ζώνης τὸν Ὀρόντᾱν they took hold of Orontas by the girdle X. A. 1.6.10 (but μοῦ λαβόμενος τῆς χειρός taking me by the hand P. Charm. 153b), ἄγειν τῆς ἡνίᾱς τὸν ἵππον to lead the horse by the bridle X. Eq. 6.9 (cp. βοῦν δ᾽ ἀγέτην κεράων they led the cow by the horns γ 439).

Verbs of beseeching take the genitive by analogy to verbs of touching: ἐμὲ λισσέσκετο γούνων she besought me by (clasping) my knees I 451 (cp. γενείου ἁψάμενος λίσσεσθαι beseech by touching his chin K 454).

The genitive is used with verbs of beginning.

a. Partitive: ἔφη Κῦρον ἄρχειν τοῦ λόγου ὧδε he said that Cyrus began the discussion as follows X. A. 1.6.5, τοῦ λόγου ἤρχετο ὧδε he began his speech as follows 3. 2. 7. On ἄρχειν as distinguished from ἄρχεσθαι see 1734. 5.

b. Ablatival (1391) denoting the point of departure: σέο δ᾽ ἄρξομαι I will make a beginning with thee I 97. In this sense ἀπό or ἐξ is usually added: ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ σοῦ D. 18.297, ἄρξομαι ἀπὸ τῆς ῑ̓ᾱτρικῆς λέγων I will make a beginning by speaking of medicine P. S. 186b.

The genitive is used with verbs signifying to aim at, strive after, desire (genitive of the end desired).

ἀνθρώπων στοχάζεσθαι to aim at men X. C. 1.6.29, ἐφῑέμενοι τῶν κερδῶν desiring gain T. 1.8, πάντες τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἐπιθῡμοῦσιν all men desire what is good P. R. 438a, τὸ ἐρᾶν τῶν καλῶν the passionate love of what is noble Aes. 1.137, πεινῶσι χρημάτων they are hungry for wealth X. S. 4. 36, πόλις ἐλευθερίᾱς διψήσᾱσα a state thirsting for freedom P. R. 562c. So with ὀϊστεύειν shoot at (poet.), λιλαίεσθαι desire (poet.), γλίχεσθαι desire. φιλεῖν love, ποθεῖν long for take the accusative.

The genitive is used with verbs signifying to reach, obtain (genitive of the end attained).

τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐφικέσθαι to attain to virtue I. 1.5, οἱ ἀκοντισταὶ βραχύτερα ἠκόντιζον ἢ ὡς ἐξικνεῖσθαι τῶν σφενδονητῶν the javelin-throwers did not hurl far enough to reach the slingers X. A. 3.3.7, σπονδῶν ἔτυχε he obtained a truce 3. 1. 28. So with κυρεῖν obtain (poet.), κληρονομεῖν inherit, ἀποτυγχάνειν fail to hit. τυγχάνειν, when compounded with ἐν, ἐπί, παρά, περί, and σύν, takes the dative. λαγχάνειν obtain by lot usually takes the accusative.

a. This genitive and that of 1349 form the genitive of the goal.

The genitive of the thing obtained may be joined with an ablatival genitive (1410) of the person: οὗ δὲ δὴ πάντων οἰόμεθα τεύξεσθαι ἐπαίνου in a case where we expect to win praise from all men X. A. 5.7.33. But where the thing obtained is expressed by a neuter pronoun, the accusative is employed.

It is uncertain whether verbs signifying to miss take a partitive or an ablatival genitive: οὐδεὶς ἡμάρτανεν ἀνδρός no one missed his man X. A. 3.4.15, σφαλέντες τῆς δόξης disappointed in expectations T. 4.85.

Verbs of approaching and meeting take the genitive according to 1343 or 1349. These verbs are poetical. Thus, ἀντιόων ταύρων for the purpose of obtaining (his share of) bulls α 25, ἀντήσω τοῦδ᾽ ἀνέρος I will encounter this man II 423, πελάσαι νεῶν to approach the ships S. Aj. 709. In the meaning draw near to verbs of approaching take the dative (1463).

The genitive is used with verbs of smelling.

ὄζω μύρου I smell of perfume Ar. Eccl. 524. So πνεῖν μύρου to breathe (smell of) perfume S. fr. 140.

The genitive is used with verbs signifying to enjoy, taste, eat, drink.

ἀπολαύομεν πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν we enjoy all the good things X. M. 4.3.11, εὐωχοῦ τοῦ λόγου enjoy the discourse P. R. 352b, ὀλίγοι σῑ́του ἐγεύσαντο few tasted food X. A. 3.1.3. So (rarely) with ἥδεσθαι take pleasure in.

a. Here belong ἐσθίειν, πῑ́νειν when they do not signify to eat up or drink up: ὠμῶν ἐσθίειν αὐτῶν to eat them alive X. H. 3.3.6, πῑ́νειν οἴνοιο drink some wine χ 11, as boire du vin (but πῑ́νειν οἶνον drink wine Ξ 5, as boire le vin). Words denoting food and drink are placed in the accusative when they are regarded as kinds of nourishment.

The genitive is used with verbs signifying to remember, remind, forget, care for , and neglect.

τῶν ἀπόντων φίλων μέμνησο remember your absent friends I. 1.26, βούλομαι δ᾽ ῡ̔μᾶς ἀναμνῆσαι τῶν ἐμοὶ πεπρᾱγμένων I desire to remind you of my past actions And. 4.41, δέδοικα μὴ ἐπιλαθώμεθα τῆς οἴκαδε ὁδοῦ I fear lest we may forget the way home X. A. 3.2.25, ἐπιμελόμενοι οἱ μὲν ὑποζυγίων, οἱ δὲ σκευῶν some taking care of the pack animals, others of the baggage 4. 3. 30, τῆς τῶν πολλῶν δόξης δεῖ ἡμᾶς φροντίζειν we must pay heed to the world's opinion P. Cr. 48a, τί ἡμῖν τῆς τῶν πολλῶν δόξης μέλει; what do we care for the world's opinion? 44 c, τοῖς σπουδαίοις οὐχ οἷόν τε τῆς ἀρετῆς ἀμελεῖν the serious cannot disregard virtue I. 1.48, μηδενὸς ὀλιγωρεῖτε μηδὲ καταφρονεῖτε (cp. 1385) τῶν προστεταγμένων neither neglect nor despise any command laid on you 3. 48.

So with μνημονεύειν remember (but usually with the accus., especially of things), ἀμνημονεῖν not to speak of, κήδεσθαι care for, ἐντρέπεσθαι give heed to, ἐνθῡμεῖσθαι think deeply of, προορᾶν make provision for (in Hdt.), μεταμέλει μοι it repents me, καταμελεῖν neglect.

Many of these verbs also take the accusative. With the accus. μεμνῆσθαι means to remember something as a whole, with the gen. to remember something about a thing, bethink oneself. The accus. is usually found with verbs of remembering and forgetting when they mean to hold or not to hold in memory, and when the object is a thing. Neuter pronouns must stand in the accus. ἐπιλανθάνεσθαι forget takes either the genitive or the accusative, λανθάνεσθαι (usually poetical) always takes the genitive. μέλει it is a care, ἐπιμέλεσθαι care for, μεμνῆσθαι think about may take περί with the genitive. οἶδα generally means I remember when it has a person as the object (in the accusative).

Verbs of reminding may take two accusatives: ταῦθ᾽ ὑπέμνησ᾽ ῡ̔μᾶς I have reminded you of this D. 19.25 (1628).

With μέλει, the subject, if a neuter pronoun, may sometimes stand in the nominative (the personal construction): ταῦτα θεῷ μελήσει God will care for this P. Phae. 238d. Except in poetry the subject in the nominative is very rare with other words than neuter pronouns: χοροὶ πᾶσι μέλουσι P. L. 835e.

The genitive is used with verbs signifying to hear and perceive: ἀκούειν, κλύειν (poet.) hear, ἀκροᾶσθαι listen to, αἰσθάνεσθαι perceive, πυνθάνεσθαι hear, learn of, συνῑέναι understand, ὀσφραίνεσθαι scent. The person or thing, whose words, sound, etc. are perceived by the senses, stands in the genitive; the words, sound, etc. generally stand in the accusative.

τινὸς ἤκουσ᾽ εἰπόντος I heard somebody say D. 8.4, ἀκούσαντες τῆς σάλπιγγος hearing the sound of the trumpet X. A. 4.2.8, ἀκούσαντες τὸν θόρυβον hearing the noise 4. 4. 21, ἀκροώμενοι τοῦ ᾁδοντος listening to the singer X. C. 1.3.10, ὅσοι ἀλλήλων ξυνῑ́εσαν all who understood each other T. 1.3, ἐπειδὰν συνῑῇ τις τὰ λεγόμενα when one understands what is said P. Pr. 325c (verbs of understanding, συνῑέναι and ἐπίστασθαι, usually take the accus.), κρομμύων ὀσφραίνομαι I smell onions Ar. Ran. 654.

a. A supplementary participle is often used in agreement with the genitive of the person from whom something is heard: λέγοντος ἐμοῦ ἀκροᾱ́σονται οἱ νέοι the young men will listen when I speak P. A. 37d.

b. The accusative is almost always used when the thing heard is expressed by a substantivized neuter adjective or participle, but the genitive plural in the case of οὗτος, ὅδε, αὐτός, and ὅς is frequent.

A double genitive, of the person and of the thing, is rare with ἀκούειν: τῶν ὐπὲρ τῆς γραφῆς δικαίων ἀκούειν μου to listen to my just pleas as regards the indictment D. 18.9.

ἀκούειν, αἰσθάνεσθαι, πυνθάνεσθαι, meaning to become aware of, learn, take the accusative (with a participle in indirect discourse, 2112 b) of a personal or impersonal object: οἱ δέ Πλαταιῆς, ὡς ᾔσθοντο ἔνδον τε ὄντας τοὺς Θηβαίους και κατειλημμένην τὴν πόλιν but the Plataeans, when they became aware that the Thebans were inside and that the city had been captured T. 2.3, πυθόμενοι Ἀρταξέρξην τεθνηκότα having learned that Artaxerxes was dead 4. 50.

a. To hear a thing is usually ἀκούειν τι when the thing heard is something definite and when the meaning is simply hear, not listen to.

ἀκούειν, ἀκροᾶσθαι, πυνθἁνεσθαι, meaning to hear from, learn from, take the genitive of the actual source (1411).

ἀκούειν, κλύειν, πυνθάνεσθαίτινος may mean to hear about, hear of: εἰ δέ κε τεθνηῶτος ἀκούσῃς but if you hear that he is dead α 289, κλύων σοῦ hearing about thee S. O. C. 307, ὡς ἐπύθοντο τῆς Πύλου κατειλημμένης when they heard of the capture of Pylos T. 4.6. For the participle (not in indirect discourse) see 2112 a. περί is often used with the genitive without the participle.

In the meaning heed, hearken, obey, verbs of hearing generally take the genitive: ἄκουε πάντων, ἐκλέγου δ᾽ ἃ συμφέρει listen to everything, but choose that which is profitable Men. Sent. 566, τῶν πολεμίων ἀκούειν to submit to enemies X. C. 8.1.4. πείθεσθαι takes the genitive, instead of the dative, by analogy to this use (Hdt. 6.12, T. 7.73). (On the dative with ἀκούειν obey see 1465.)

αἰσθάνεσθαι takes the genitive, or (less frequently) the accusative, of the thing immediately perceived by the senses: τῆς κραυγῆς ᾔσθοντο they heard the noise X. H. 4.4.4, ᾔσθετο τὰ γιγνόμενα he perceived what was happening X. C. 3.1.4. The genitive is less common than the accusative when the perception is intellectual: ὡς ᾔσθοντο τειχιζόντων when they heard that they were progressing with their fortification T. 5.83. Cp. 1363.

Some verbs, ordinarily construed with the accusative, take the genitive by the analogy of αἰσθάνεσθαι, etc.: ἔγνω ἄτοπα ἐμοῦ ποιοῦντος he knew that I was acting absurdly X. C. 7.2.18, ἀγνοοῦντες ἀλλήλων ὅ τι λέγομεν each of us mistaking what the other says P. G. 517c. This construction of verbs of knowing (and showing) occurs in Attic only when a participle accompanies the genitive.

The genitive is used with verbs signifying to fill, to be full of. The thing filled is put in the accusative.

οὐκ ἐμπλήσετε τὴν θάλατταν τριήρων ; will you not cover the sea with your triremes? D. 8.74, ἀναπλῆσαι αἰτιῶν to implicate in guilt P. A. 32c, τροφῆς εὐπορεῖν to have plenty of provisions X. Vect. 6.1, τριήρης σεσαγμένη ἀνθρώπων a trireme stowed with men X. O. 8.8, ὕβρεως μεστοῦσθαι to be filled with pride P. L. 713c. So with πλήθειν, πληροῦν, γέμειν, πλουτεῖν, βρῑ́θειν (poet.), βρύειν (poet.).

a. Here belong also χεὶρ στάζει θυηλῆς Ἄρεος his hand drips with sacrifice to Ares S. El. 1423, μεθυσθεὶς τοῦ νέκταρος intoxicated with nectar P. S. 203b, ἡ πηγὴ ῥεῖ ψῡχροῦ ὕδατος the spring flows with cold water P. Phae. 230b. The instrumental dative is sometimes used.

The genitive is used with verbs signifying to rule, command, lead.

θεῖον τὸ ἐθελόντων ἄρχειν it is divine to rule over willing subjects X. O. 21.12, τῆς θαλάττης ἐκράτει he was master of the sea P. Menex. 239e, Ἔρως τῶν θεῶν βασιλεύει Love is king of the gods P. S. 195c, ἡγεῖτο τῆς ἐξόδου he led the expedition T. 2.10, στρατηγεῖν τῶν ξένων to be general of the mercenaries X. A. 2. 6. 28. So with τυραννεῖν be absolute master of, ἀνἀσσειν be lord of (poet.), ἡγεμονεύειν be commander of. This genitive is connected with that of 1402.

Several verbs of ruling take the accusative when they mean to conquer, overcome (so κρατεῖν), or when they express the domain over which the rule extends; as τὴν Πελοπόννησον πειρᾶσθε μὴ ἐλᾱ́σσω ἐξηγεῖσθαι try not to lessen your dominion over the Peloponnese T. 1.71. ἡγεῖσθαί τινι means to be a guide to any one, show any one the way. Cp. 1537.

To value highly and lightly is περὶ πολλοῦ (πλείονος, πλείστου) and περὶ ὀλίγου (ἐλᾱ́ττονος, ἐλαχίστου) τῑμᾶσθαι or ποιεῖσθαι: τὰ πλείστου ἄξια περὶ ἐλαχίστου ποιεῖται, τὰ δὲ φαυλότερα περὶ πλείονος he makes least account of what is most important, and sets higher what is less estimable P. A. 30a. The genitive of value, without περί, is rare: πολλοῦ ποιοῦμαι ἀκηκοέναι ἃ ἀκήκοα Πρωταγόρου I esteem it greatly to have heard what I did from Protagoras P. Pr. 328d.

a. The genitive of cause is rarely used to express the thing bought or that for which pay is demanded: οὐδένα τῆς συνουσίᾱς ἀργύριον πρᾱ́ττει you charge nobody anything for your teaching X. M. 1.6.11, τρεῖς μναῖ διφρίσκου three minae for a small chariot Ar. Nub. 31.

In legal language τῑμᾶν τινι θανάτου is to fix the penalty at death (said of the jury, which is not interested in the result), τῑμᾶσθαί τινι θανάτου to propose death as the penalty (said of the accuser, who is interested), and τιμᾶσθαί τινος to propose a penalty against oneself (said of the accused). Cp. τῑμᾶταί μοι ὁ ἀνὴρ θανάτου the man proposes death as my penalty P. A. 36b, ἀλλὰ δὴ φυγῆς τῑμήσωμαι; ἴσως γὰρ ἄν μοι τούτου τῑμήσαιτε but shall I propose exile as my penalty? for perhaps you (the jury) might fix it at this 37 c. So θανάτου with κρῑ́νειν, διώκειν, ὑπάγειν. Cp. 1379.

So with ἀμῡ́νεσθαι and κολάζειν punish, εἰσάγειν and προσκαλεῖσθαι summon into court, αἱρεῖν convict, τῑμωρεῖσθαι take vengeance on. With τῑμωρεῖν avenge and λαγχάνειν obtain leave to bring a suit, the person avenged and the person against whom the suit is brought are put in the dative. So with δικάζεσθαί τινί τινος to go to law with a man about something.

Verbs of judicial action may take a cognate accusative (δίκην, γραφήν), on which the genitive of the crime depends: γραφὴν ὕβρεως καὶ δίκην κακηγορίᾱς φεύξεται he will be brought to trial on an indictment for outrage and on a civil action for slander D. 21.32. From this adnominal use arose the construction of the genitive with this class of verbs.

ἁλίσκεσθαι (ἁλῶναι) be convicted, ὀφλισκάνειν lose a suit, φεύγειν be prosecuted are equivalent to passives: ἐᾱ́ν τις ἁλῷ κλοπῆς . . . κᾱ̓̀ν ἀστρατείᾱς τις ὄφλῃ if any one be condemned for theft . . . and if any one be convicted of desertion D. 24.103, ἀσεβείᾱς φεύγοντα ὑπὸ Μελήτου being tried for impiety on the indictment of Meletus P. A. 35d. ὀφλισκάνειν may take δίκην as a cognate accus. (ὠφληκέναι δίκην to be cast in a suit Ar. Av. 1457); the crime or the penalty may stand in the genitive (with or without δίκην), or in the accusative: ὁπόσοι κλοπῆς ἢ δώρων ὄφλοιεν all who had been convicted of embezzlement or bribery And. 1.74, ὑφ᾽ ῡ̔μῶν θανάτου δίκην ὀφλών having incurred through your verdict the penalty of death, ὑπὸ τῆς ἀληθείᾱς ὠφληκότες μοχθηρίᾱν condemned by the truth to suffer the penalty of wickedness P. A. 39b.

With verbs of judicial action the genitive of the penalty may be regarded as a genitive of value: θανάτου κρῑ́νουσι they judge in matters of life and death X. C. 1.2.14. So ὑπάγειν τινὰ θανάτου to impeach a man on a capital charge X. H. 2.3.12; cp. τῑμᾶν θανάτου 1374.

a. With many verbs of judicial action περί is used.

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.

A verb compounded with a preposition taking the dative or accusative may take the genitive by analogy of another compound verb whose preposition requires the genitive: so ἐμβαίνειν ὅρων to set foot on the boundaries S. O. C. 400 by analogy to ἐπιβαίνειν τῶν ὅρων P. L. 778e.

Many verbs compounded with ἀπό, πρό, ὑπέρ, ἐπί, and κατά take the genitive when the compound may be resolved into the simple verb and the preposition without change in the sense: τοὺς συμμάχους ἀποτρέψαντες τῆς γνώμης dissuading the allies from their purpose And. 3.21, προαπεστάλησαν τῆς ἀποστάσεως they were despatched before the revolt T. 3.5, πολλοῖς ἡ γλῶττα προτρέχει τῆς διανοίᾱς in many people the tongue outruns the thought I. 1.41, (οἱ πολέμιοι) ὑπερκάθηνται ἡμῶν the enemy are stationed above us X. A. 5.1.9, τῷ ἐπιβάντι πρώτῳ τοῦ τείχους to the first one setting foot on the wall T. 4.116. This use is most frequent when the prepositions are used in their proper signification. Many compounds of ὑπέρ take the accusative.

a. This use is especially common with κατά against or at: μή μου κατείπῃς don't speak against me P. Th. 149a, κατεψεύσατό μου he spoke falsely against me D. 18.9, ψευδῆ κατεγλώττιζέ μου he mouthed lies at me Ar. Ach. 380. The construction in 1384 is post-Homeric.

The verbs of accusing and condemning (cp. 1375) containing κατά in composition (καταγιγνώσκειν decide against, καταδικάζειν adjudge against, καταψηφίζεσθαι vote against, κατακρῑ́νειν give sentence against) take a genitive of the person, and an accusative of the penalty. κατηγορεῖν accuse, καταγιγνώσκειν and καταψηφίζεσθαι take a genitive of the person, an accusative of the crime: καταγνῶναι δωροδοκίᾱν ἐμοῦ to pronounce me guilty of bribery L. 21.21, τούτου δειλίᾱν καταψηφίζεσθαι to vote him guilty of cowardice 14. 11, τῶν διαφυγόντων θάνατον καταγνόντες having condemned the fugitives to death T. 6.60; person, crime, and penalty: πολλῶν οἱ πατέρες μηδισμοῦ θάνατον κατέγνωσαν our fathers passed sentence of death against many for favouring the Persians I. 4.157. The genitive is rarely used to express the crime or the penalty: παρανόμων αὐτοῦ κατηγορεῖν to accuse him of proposing unconstitutional measures D. 21.5; cp. ἀνθρώπων καταψηφισθέντων θάνατον men who have been condemned to death P. R. 558a.

In general, prose, as distinguished from poetry, repeats the preposition contained in the compound; but κατά is not repeated.

Passive.—θάνατος αὐτῶν κατεγνώσθη sentence of death was passed on them L. 13.39 (so κατεψηφισμένος ἦν μου ὁ θάνατος X. Ap. 27), κατηγορεῖτο αὐτοῦ οὐχ ἥκιστα μηδισμός he was especially accused of favouring the Persians T. 1.95.

From such constructions arose the use of the genitive in actual dependence on the verb without an accusative word or clause: ἄγασαι αὐτοῦ you admire him X. M. 2.6.33, θαυμάζω τῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἰδίᾱς δόξης ἀποθνῄσκειν ἐθελόντων I wonder at those who are willing to die in defence of their personal opinions I. 6.93. The use in 1389 recalls that with αἰσθάνεσθαι (1367). On ἄγασθαι, θαυμάζειν with the genitive of cause, see 1405.

A form of the genitive of possession appears in poetry with verbal adjectives and passive participles to denote the personal origin of an action (cp. 1298): κείνης διδακτά taught of her S. El. 344, ἐκδιδαχθεὶς τῶν κατ᾽ οἶκον informed by those in the house S. Tr. 934, πληγεὶς θυγατρός struck by a daughter E. Or. 497. Cp. διόσδοτος given of God; and “beloved of the Lord.”

On the genitive absolute, see 2070.